Plans for a huge new solar energy farm on the outskirts of Brean and Berrow have been given the go-ahead this week.
The 90-acre solar farm is earmarked for fields to the south of Wick Farm in the parishes of Berrow and Brent Knoll.
The plans for the 18 megawatt solar farm were submitted from developer Hadstone Energy and approved at a meeting of Sedgemoor District Council’s Development Commitee on Tuesday (October 28th).
Sedgemoor Planning Case Officer Chris Gomm recommended the plans were approved, saying: “The application site is located in the countryside where development is strictly controlled but where planning policy supports the principle of renewable and low carbon energy generation.”
“The proposed installation will not have a significant adverse visual impact or a significant adverse impact upon the landscape, ecology or residential amenity. Existing and proposed planting will minimise the visibility and thus impact of the development from publicly accessible vantage points.”
“The proposed installation will not generate emissions or noise that would cause disturbance. Highway arrangements are acceptable, including during construction, vehicular movements will be minimal following installation and the access to/from the site is adequate.”
Lympsham Parish Council objected against the plans. A spokesman explained: “The council’s view is that any increase in the volume of heavy traffic through our village will only have a detrimental effect on the existing issues on this route and would suggest the planners recommend an alternative access route for this development, especially as the planning application is not in our Parish and Lympsham will not benefit from it.”
Hadstone already runs a large solar energy farm at Watchfield, near Burnham. Burnham-On-Sea.com has previously featured the huge solar energy farms in Watchfield and Wedmore and others planned at Rooksbridge and Mark.
