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Plans lodged for solar farm on agricultural land Plans for a new 30-hectare solar farm in Herefordshire have taken a step forward. An application for the proposed 20-megawatt site has been submitted for farmland north of Stoke Edith following a ruling that an Environment Impact Assessment study was not required by virtue, according to Herefordshire Council in April, of its size and location. Renewable energy firm Anesco seeks permission for solar panels, transformer units, a control room and grid connection equipment. Comments on the application can be made via the Herefordshire Council webpage until 25 July. The project is earmarked for land beside the Hereford-Ledbury railway line, a site where Anesco says the “substantial environmental, economic, and social benefits outweigh its position within an area of flood risk“. Anesco said its development would not increase the risk of flooding within or outside the site. The firm added the project would “not result in any increased pollution of any form, with no significant producers of sound or light proposed on site”. It stated “enhanced” hedgerows along with tree and scrub planting would “ensure that landscape impacts are reduced where possible”. Land beneath the development would “continue to retain an agricultural use with sheep grazing being feasible”, Anesco said, adding the loss of farmland “would be temporary and reversible”. If given the go-ahead, lorries would access the site during a 48 to 50-week construction period via minor adjacent roads. The next bit… Now, I’ve learnt from making these videos that when a company name pops up it’s best to pop it into a search engine followed by the word ‘scandal’ or ‘controversy’ just to see what results come up. Typing in ‘Anesco Controversy’ gives us… Hundreds stand against battery storage plan for Green Belt in Great Barr Controversial West Burton solar farm plans reach key milestone Solar panel farm switched on in New Forest More than 100 objections lodged against solar farm near Alresford
