Plans have moved forward to create a solar farm in the Herefordshire countryside that could provide power for around 9,100 homes.

The application for full planning permission (numbered 233578; comments until February 1) by Green Switch Capital, says the plan would sit on 39 hectares of farmland at Oatcroft Farm, Titley near Kington.

It would include transformer stations, a control building, substation compound, perimeter fencing and access roads, along with water-retaining swales, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

Hereford Times: plan of the proposed solar farm near Titleyplan of the proposed solar farm near Titley (Image: Green Switch Capital, from application)

The company says the plan is supported by county planning policy, which encourages decentralised renewable energy to mitigate the impact of climate change, and by the national drive towards net-zero by 2050.

It explains it has consulted with locals through posting leaflets, contacting Titley parish council, setting up a project website and holding an exhibition in Titley village hall in April this year, at which 47 attended.

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This, and pre-application talks with the council, found that the greatest concerns were over the scheme’s visual impact.

But the new application says that “any identified harm would be time-limited [to 40 years] due to the temporary nature of the proposal”, and would be outweighed by its environmental, economic and social benefits.

Green Switch submitted an enquiry earlier this year on whether an environmental impact assessment was required. This now forms part of the formal planning application.