Solar farm plan by Herefordshire river moves closer

A new planning application (number 241510) by Reading-based Anesco seeks permission for solar panels, transformer units, a control room and grid connection equipment on farmland north of Stoke Edith beside the Hereford-Ledbury railway line.

The spot “is relatively well screened from the surrounding area, and falls within an area which is already characterised by electrical infrastructure, including a solar farm”, it says – an apparent reference to the larger Larport solar farm already built between nearby Dormington and Mordiford.

RELATED NEWS:

• New solar farm planned by Herefordshire railway
• 'Big decision' on planned Herefordshire solar farm
• Home Bargains plans to take over Homebase site in Ledbury

Lying alongside the river Frome, the site is classed as having a flood risk of 2 (“medium”) or 3 (“highest”).

Anesco says the proposal’s “substantial environmental, economic, and social benefits outweigh its position within an area of flood risk”, and that it would not increase the risk of flooding within or outside the site.

Aerial view of the proposed solar farm site (Image: application)

Addressing other concerns raised by locals, the company says that “enhanced” hedgerows along with tree and scrub planting “will ensure that landscape impacts are reduced where possible”.

It also says its plan “will not result in any increased pollution of any form, with no significant producers of sound or light proposed on site” – nor will there be new pylons, as at Larport.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

In April, an application by “Frome Valley Solar” confirmed that an environmental impact assessment was not needed for the project.

Each panel would be mounted above the ground, rising to a height of 2.8 metres.

OTHER NEWS:

• New car park brings reopening of historic Herefordshire pub closer 
• Update on plans to reopen Herefordshire's Pontrilas station
• Plan for new Lidl in Ledbury is back on

The land beneath “will continue to retain an agricultural use with sheep grazing being feasible”, Anesco says, adding the loss of farmland “would be temporary and reversible”.

During construction, lorries would access the site from the minor adjacent road over a 48-50 week period.

Comments on the application can be made via the Herefordshire Council webpage until July 25.