It was only a few days ago that there was a news item on this website about solar farms in the UK so it seems rather coincidental that we should be making reference to planning approval being granted on what is likely to be the biggest solar panel farm in the UK. This is good news and let’s hope for more solar panel farms to be built to help hit the UK’s renewable energy targets by 2020.
A council has approved the solar farm that will be located on a 200-acre site in Hampshire. At the moment, the largest solar farm in the UK is in Leicestershire and covers 150 acres so this latest site will be significantly bigger. It will be capable of providing sufficient energy for around 11,000 homes in the Portsmouth area.
The farm will be located between Fareham and Waterlooville in Hampshire and planning approval was given by Winchester City Council’s Planning Development Control Committee. Of the ten councillors on the committee, nine gave their approval to the plans that were submitted by the Southwick Estate.
Apparently, the land had been farmed by the same family for three generations but the current tenant farmer will be compensated and approves of the scheme.
Back in August last year, a consultation process took place with the local community so this would appear to be another example of the developers and local people working together for the good of the UK when it comes to renewable energy and the reduction in carbon emissions that we so badly need. It is schemes like this that could make the difference as to whether we hit the previous targets referred to above.
Does anyone reading this know of any similar schemes that are “in the pipeline”? If so, we would love to hear about them.
