There is a feeling that it is a new gold rush. In reality the current suite of planning applications for solar farms east and south east of Ludlow is being driven by farmers seeking a more secure income in turbulent times, the pressing need to reduce CO2 emission from electricity generation as part of the UK’s net zero commitment and the opportunities for to connect solar farms to the national grid. There is currently one solar farm east of Ludlow suppling the national grid. Another four are at different stages of the planning system. They may not be the last applications we will see in this area. Why so many in this area? The straightforward answer is that there is capacity to connect to the national power grid through Squirrel Lane Substation.
Tag: solar
Plans for solar farm at Brick House Farm, Greete published
Plans have been published for a solar farm at Brick House Farm, Grete (22/02565/FUL). The 54-hectare solar farm would have a capacity of around 49.9 MW, generating enough renewable energy to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 15,000 homes. The developer, Bluefield, expects to begin construction of the site in 2023 if it gains approval from Shropshire Council. Bluefield says the Greete site was chosen for its seclusion, relatively poor soil quality and access to the grid. The proposal includes biodiversity and landscape enhancement measures, including hedgerow planting and filling gaps in existing hedgerows. Sheep may also be grazed underneath the solar panels. The project is expected to contribute about £10 million in business rates to Shropshire Council over 40 years. A community fund of about £150k will be established to invest in local projects and initiatives.
Planning application published for 12MW Ledwyche Solar Farm
A planning application has been lodged for a solar farm on Squirrel Lane, on the opposite side of the road from the current solar farm (22/02151/FUL). The solar farm will have a capacity of up to 12MW and will be in place for forty years. This scheme has been well thought through and has been discussed with local residents. There will be wildlife enhances and hedgerow screening. But it will be an intrusion of steel and glass in the landscape. This application, which is in Richard Huffer’s Clee division, may come to the Southern Planning Committee for a decision so I am not expressing a view at this stage. By coincidence, MPs will be holding a debate on solar farms and battery storage on Wednesday 8 June.
Another solar farm proposed near Ludlow – 23MW south of Caynham
Green Energy International has asked for a screening option for a 33 hectare, 23MW solar farm south of Caynham at Pervin Farm. The documents for the screening option are not yet online (22/00929/SCR). My thanks to Green Energy International for supplying the screening application promptly. The landscape east and south of Ludlow is considered ideal for solar farms because of capacity to connect to the grid at the Squirrel Lane. This is connectivity not available in many other areas of the county and in many areas of the country. There is an existing solar farm at Henley Hall. A second is proposed nearby but is not yet in the planning system. Another is planned at Greete. A fourth is under consideration at Rock Farm. If all are approved, along with the Caynham scheme, there will be around 160 hectares of solar panels east and south east of Ludlow – that’s […]
Third solar farm planned east of the A49 Ludlow bypass – and it is huge!
Anglo Renewables is seeking to build a 49-hectare solar farm on Rock Farm, south of Rocks Green. To give an idea of the scale of this proposal, if it was built in Ludlow it would stretch from New Road to Temeside and from the Castle to the Ludlow Mascall Centre. The scheme will generate around 49.95MWp, enough to power around 9,000 homes when the sun shines. It will also have 12MW of energy storage to supply power when the sun doesn’t shine. With the existing solar farm off Squirrel Lane and another planned by Locogen, we will probably have enough capacity from the 80 hectares (200 acres) of solar panels to power all the homes and businesses in Ludlow from solar energy alone on bright days. The downside of Anglo Renewables scheme is that it will industrialise a rural landscape and will significantly damage views from the Titterstone Clee towards […]