5th December 2014

Planning consents gained for 14Mw solar farms

Alder King Planning Consultants have recently secured two further permissions for ground-mounted solar farms in the South West, together totalling 14MW.

Through negotiation and a cooperative approach between the applicant and the local planning authority, the permission at North Farm in Dorset for a 7MW development was approved without any pre-commencement planning conditions.  This was critically important in facilitating a prompt start on site and grid connection before the end of March 2015.

The second permission at Banwell in North Somerset for a 7MW development was approved under delegated authority following detail negotiation in respect of landscape impact and in particular ecology where the local Council completed a Habitats Regulation Assessment because of the local importance of Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats.  This permission is also likely to be built and connected before the end of March 2015.