A PLAN has been submitted to build a solar farm in Cholderton.

Lightsource BP is proposing to build a 49.9MW solar farm at Down Barn Farm, Cholderton Estate, consisting of a ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation system and the creation of an electricity substation.

A design and access statement submitted with the application said: “The site is currently in agricultural use. It is not uncharacteristic for the area and has no particular features that would prevent it from being developed on a temporary (40 year) basis for a solar farm.

“Nonetheless, the minimal physical intrusion of the development itself will mean that the panels can be removed after their operational life; the land will revert to agricultural use.”

The application says the scheme has also been designed to allow sheep to continue grazing around the panels and the site will be connected into the national grid network.

The solar farm will consist of a “fixed structure” instead of one that follows the suns movements.

The statement said the proposals “will not have an adverse effect on the landscape character or residential amenity”

The application documents also say the solar PV installation would result in a reduction in carbon emissions associated with energy generation equating to approximately 16,313 tonnes of CO2 per annum or the removal of approximately 3,470 family cars from the road each year.

It also says the proposed installation of 49.9MW is the “equivalent to the energy needs of approximately 13,000 homes within the UK”.

The application’s planning statement said the proposals would “make a positive contribution to reducing carbon emissions and will contribute towards Wiltshire becoming carbon neutral by 2030”.

The proposed development would involve the construction of a ground mounted solar PV farm along with associated security fencing and buildings.

The site covers around 93.7 hectares of agricultural land.

The planning application is available to view and comment on by going to the the Wiltshire Council website at wiltshive.gov.uk and using the reference 19/10890/FUL.