Huge new solar farm plans announced in South Hams

A public consultation has been launched following proposals to create a large new solar farm in the South Hams . The 20MW development would power the equivalent of 6,000 homes and provide a reduction of 5,278 tonnes of C02 each year, along with 100MW of battery storage. British Solar Renewables (BSR Energy) is looking to develop land on Stretchford Farm to boost green energy production in the local area.

The plans will be available to view at a drop-in event on Monday, November 11, at Buckfastleigh Town Hall between 4pm and 8pm. There will also be an opportunity for residents to ask questions. James O’Connor, project manager at BSR Energy, said: "We are thrilled to be bringing forward our proposal for a new solar and battery storage development in South Hams.



The provision of solar energy is important to move toward meeting Net Zero goals, and battery storage systems are an integral part of the hardware required to make this work. "These systems allow for any excess of cheaper power to be stored for later use and not wasted. This power is then exported during times of higher demand, ensuring less efficient generation isn’t needed to meet grid requirements.

"We are looking forward to speaking with the community throughout our public consultation and are committed to considering all the feedback received ahead of submitting a planning application to South Hams District Council for consideration.” The solar farm is said to be temporary and will be in place for 40 years. The proposal details state: "Given that the site is temporary, and farming activity is hard on the land, the fallow years the provision of solar on the site will provide will contribute to improving the soil quality and the condition of the land for agriculture in the future.

"BSR always seeks to select land of low agricultural grade for its proposals where possible and the land at Stretchford Farm site has been classified as subgrade 3B or less over 60 per cent of the site. Grade 3B means it is not the best and most versatile agricultural land. "The development of solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in this location will also allow the landowner the opportunity for a guaranteed, stable income, compared to farming the land, supporting the farm’s wider activities for the next 40 years.

The proposed solar and BESS facility would have an operational lifespan of 40 years, after which the development would be decommissioned, and the land would be returned to agricultural use, with no detrimental impact to the quality of the land. "The design and layout of the site has taken into consideration the local landscape, topography, and flood risk level, as well as the location of nearby buildings, and we have therefore reduced the number of solar panels following planning meetings. The BESS has also been moved away from Westerley Cottages in the proposal, due to potential noise and landscape impact.

" The consultation will end on November 17. South Hams District Council has declared a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency. Within their Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy, the council has committed to working 'with partners through the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group to aim to reduce the District of South Hams carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest; and a 10 per cent Biodiversity Net Gain in the habitat value of its green and wooded public open space by 2025'.

The Stretchford Farm proposal will seek to: To take part in the consultation, residents can complete an online survey , email [email protected] , or call 0800 058 4846 (freephone).

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