PLANS are being developed for an approximately 86-acre solar farm near St Mary Bourne which, if approved, would supply power for more than 7,000 homes.

BSR Energy is launching a community consultation to gather feedback on plans for a proposed 29megawatt solar park on land at Lower Wyke Farm, north of Walworth Road.

The company intends to submit a planning application to Basingstoke and Deane District Council early next year.

The proposed Lower Wyke Farm Solar Park would produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 7,252 homes in the UK, saving 6,423 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

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The solar park will comprise ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays, a substation, switchgear container, inverter/transformer units, site access, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

Lower Wyke Farm Solar Park will connect to the National Grid via an underground cable to a point of connection at the bottom of the south field of the site, removing the need for a long cable route.

The company has said that the farm will be a temporary development - 40 years - allowing the development and associated infrastructure to be removed and agricultural use reinstated following decommissioning.

If approved, the site will be accessed by the existing field entrance from an unnamed road at the eastern end of the land.

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Project manager Sarah Hymas said: “We encourage the community to take part in our consultation and share their local knowledge and views on our proposals, ahead of the project design being finalised and a planning application submitted.

“We have organised a range of channels to gather community feedback, including our drop-in consultation event which provides an invaluable opportunity to speak with our project team face-to-face. There is also a project website, with an online feedback form, as well as a project email address and Freephone number. BSR welcomes all responses regarding Lower Wyke Farm Solar Park.” 

BSR Energy plans to achieve a biodiversity net gain of at least 60 per cent on the site of the solar park. Proposed ecological enhancements include planting wildflower and wild bird seed grasslands, as well as installing a range of breeding boxes for bats and birds and undertaking hedgerow planting.

A community consultation is taking place until Monday, December 5, with a drop-in consultation event to be held on Tuesday, November 22 from 3pm-7pm at St Mary Bourne Village Centre.

Residents are being encouraged to attend the event to find out more about BSR’s proposals, meet the project team and give their feedback.

All feedback received will assist with finalising the company’s proposals ahead of submitting the planning application.