But locals are concerned about the impact on the countryside and the value of their properties
How the Mousewell Solar Farm would look(Image: RWE )
Developers have applied to South Gloucestershire Council for permission to build a giant solar farm just south of Yate. The 50-hectare solar farm would be split into two sections, but has sparked opposition from local residents and the parish council who are concerned about protecting the countryside in between Yate and Westerleigh.
The solar panels would be put up at Mouse Farm and Pool Farm. Councillors on the development management committee are due to vote on whether to permit the plans on Thursday, April 30. Part of the question rests on whether the site counts as “grey belt”, a new label coined by the Labour government referring to Green Belt land that serves little purpose.
The application was referred to the committee by Councillor Marilyn Palmer, who said: “The assessment of the site as grey belt fails to recognise the strategic significance of the location in terms of the very narrow and vulnerable green belt corridor that prevents coalescence between Bristol and Yate. This needs to be tested publicly in light of its strategic significance.”
Applying for permission for the Mousewell Solar Farm is RWE, a major German energy company. The solar farm would generate 22 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power around 10,000 homes. Generating more renewable energy is a key aim of both the government and the council, as part of the switch away from fossil fuels which are causing climate change.
RWE already has a grid connection lined up. A huge obstacle in developing new renewable energy generation is the backlog of new connections to the electricity grid. Over the last five years, the queue has grown tenfold, delaying new solar farms and wind turbines being built. But according to the energy company, this wouldn’t be a problem for Mousewell Solar Farm.
Batteries would also be built to store energy, as well as new planting and wildflower areas, bird nesting boxes and bat boxes. Planning permission would last for 40 years, and then the site could be “returned to its previous state”. However similar promises are often met with scepticism from local councillors and residents.
In planning documents, RWE said: “The proposed development would generate enough electricity to power approximately 10,000 homes within South Gloucestershire to help address the urgent need for renewable energy. The development proposals would also provide the added benefit of saving 18,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually compared to non-renewable sources of energy.”
But local residents are concerned about the plan to generate renewable energy, due to the impact on the countryside, their house prices and horse riding. They are urging councillors to refuse planning permission for the solar farm.
Writing to the council, one resident said: “People living near these solar industrial parks have to endure a constant noise from the invertors, glare from the panels, light disturbances, danger from fire, devaluation of property and they will lose the beautiful countryside they chose to live next to. It will be replaced with rows of steel, glass and metal filled with toxic chemicals, imported from China, and large containers filled with lithium batteries.”
