A plan to build a 270-acre solar farm between Worcester and Malvern has been revealed.
JBM Solar is looking to install rows of solar panels and build a battery storage facility and new substation across several fields near Bastonford, Collett’s Green and Leigh Sinton off A449 Worcester Road.
The solar farm would be in place for 40 years and would generate enough power to generate 19,500 homes according to the application.
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Construction would take between six and nine months if the plans are approved by Malvern Hills District Council.
A two-metre perimeter fence would be installed – with mammal gates for wildlife to use – as well as gates and CCTV cameras.
JBM Solar has not yet submitted a planning application but has instead put forward a ‘screening opinion’ which means the district council will have to rule whether the 270-acre solar farm would need an environmental impact assessment before a planning application was later proposed.
A statement included with the application said: “The development is to be a solar PV array on an area of agricultural land. According to the proposed design, this installation will occupy around 110 hectares and will have a capacity of 49.9MW.
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“This development will be positioned in a well-screened location, bordered by substantial woodland and well-vegetated field boundaries. There is no other large-scale solar development proposed or approved within a three-kilometre search area.
“The natural resource of solar energy will be used to supply renewable energy to the electricity grid network to aid in meeting government renewable energy targets.”
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JBM Solar said as well as generating clean renewable energy, the huge project would also include more planting, a community orchard, beehives, bat and bird boxes, log piles and other shelters for animals.
“The development is located on agricultural fields bound by thick vegetation which screens the development from much of the surrounding landscape,” JBM said. “The proposal will introduce new wild meadow planting, infill planting to create wildlife corridors and improve screening, and introduce animal boxes which will help increase the overall biodiversity in and around the site.”
You can view the plans by visiting Malvern Hills District Council’s website. The application number is M/23/01117/SCR.
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