Solar farm powering nearly 15,000 homes near Bristol set to get the green light
Councillors from South Gloucestershire are set to approve planning permission for a solar farm near Frampton Cotterell
A large solar farm in the green belt just north of Bristol is set to receive the green light for planning permission.
South Gloucestershire councillors are being urged to approve proposals for the panels, substation, security fencing and other infrastructure spanning 90 hectares.
The 50-megawatt ground-mounted solar farm would save almost 26,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year and all electricity generated would feed into the national grid.
The site would be 300 metres north-west of Frampton Cotterell, straddling Perrinpit Road to the east of the B4427 Old Gloucester Road and west of the B4058 Bristol Road.
The plans included new landscaping, biodiversity enhancements and public rights of way improvements.
If approved by the development management committee, it would revert to farmland after 40 years. This farm would also have the capability to power over 14,500 homes with clean electricity.
26 residents have written letters of support although 16 householders object with concerns including the impact on wildlife and loss of the green belt.
A report said improvements had been made to the scheme since it was originally submitted last year, including removing two fields with the best agricultural land from development, new wildflower planting under the overhead power lines to provide a “biodiversity corridor”, more hedgerows, tree planting and an existing barn being turned into a bat house.
It added: “Existing public rights of way are proposed to be upgraded with improved signage and gateways, which can be used by both horse riders and pedestrians".
South Gloucestershire Council’s conservation officer has raised concerns about a degree of possible harm to several Grade II listed heritage assets on the farm, however, it was concluded this would be outweighed by their net zero target contributions.
The report concluded: “The applicant has stated that a Community Benefit Fund would be provided in order to support local projects so that the local community can derive direct benefits from the power generated by the scheme.”