A planning application for a 10.6 Hectares 10.5 MW solar farm across two fields south and east of Goosey Lodge Farm, Wymington has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council.
The proposals include the removal of existing stable buildings, manage and horse paddocks, the creation of a solar farm with 22,946 400W solar panels, a switch room, and two CCTV cameras located at the centre of each field mounted on 5.5m high poles.
The development also proposes planting up to 350 metres of new hedgerow and six trees.
The applicant said the hedgerow planting will ‘fill in’ areas around the boundaries of the two fields to ensure the proposed development is “well screened” from surrounding public vantage points.
Construction access to the site will be via the existing access point to Wymington Lane, and all construction traffic will be directed from the A6. This is to ensure that construction vehicles do not go through Wymington.
The construction transport hours will be limited to between 07:00 and 19:00 hours Monday to Friday, 09:00 and 12:00 hours on Saturdays, with no deliveries on Sundays or bank holidays.
The applicant said these hours will provide flexibility in delivery times to allow peak times to be avoided, so minimising effects on local road users.
Over the six to nine month construction period it is anticipated that there would be on average six HGV traffic movements to the site on a typical day.
Although, this will rise to up to eight HGV movements per day when the solar panels are delivered.
The applicant said it is common practice to apply or receive temporary planning permission for a period of 25 to 30 years, due to subsidy arrangements, leases, and manufacturer warranties.
However, a time limit for this solar farm has not been set.
The applicant has proposed a condition that would see the equipment removed if the solar farm ceases to generate electricity for six months.
More information can be found on the council’s planning portal, reference 22/01520/MAF.
Beds Bulletin – Borough edition
https://issuu.com/bedsbulletin/docs/beds_bulletin_august_2022
