Solar panels to supply Leonardo with renewable electricity

The application was approved last week to grant a temporary permission for the next 40 years and six months for the installation of the infrastructure near the village of West Coker.

A planning document read: “The 16.24 hectare application site lies in the countryside to the southwest of Yeovil and to the north of West Coker village, it also includes a cable route from the site to the Leonardo site in Yeovil.

“The site is bounded by Camp Road which runs along the north boundary and Gooseacre Lane running along the eastern boundary.

“A Public Right of Way Footpath (PROW) Y 29/8 runs through the centre of the site from north to south, there is also a Public Right of Way Footpath (Y29/6) which runs along the western boundary but is not within the application site.

“There are no directly adjoining residential properties, but there is a small group of dwellings and allotment gardens that sit opposite the southeastern part of the site on Gooseacre Lane.

“This is an application for full temporary (40 years and 6 months) permission for the development of a ground-mounted solar energy generation system and associated infrastructure including battery energy storage and access arrangements.

“The proposal involves the installation of solar panels and associated infrastructure facility of approximately 15.23 megawatts peak (MWp), to supply Leonardo of Yeovil.

“The proposals will retain and improve the existing access point, providing new access tracks for construction and maintenance set away from the hedge boundaries and proposed supplementary buffer planting.

“A track will terminate within each field to allow access to the inverters.

“Together with associated infrastructure and housings the development is comprised of the following main elements:

• A solar scheme of fixed ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels and ancillary development including battery storage, switch room, substation and transformers.
• An underground cable route will also run broadly northeastwards to connect to the Leonardo Helicopter site. 
• The solar panels will be arranged in rows and mounted no higher than 2.7m from ground level and orientated southwards to maximise power generation.
• The ancillary development will be no higher than 2.9m
• The solar panels will be mounted on metal frames with support posts inserted into the ground to a depth of approximately 1-1.5m, depending on ground conditions, thereby avoiding the use of concrete foundations
• A 2m high perimeter post and wire (deer) fence will surround the proposed development.
• A green palisade security fence will surround the battery storage area
• CCTV cameras will be mounted on poles along the perimeter fence
• Access tracks (for construction and operation), approximately 3.5m wide consisting of Type 1 MOT compacted gravel and a geotextile lining, utilising the existing entrance off Camp Road to the north
• Retention and enhancement of boundary tree, shrub, and hedgerow planting to retain enclosure and screening as well as for biodiversity and nature conservation benefits; and
• Extensive proposed woodland and hedgerow planting for screening, promotion of landscape character and landscape elements, and for biodiversity (including Biodiversity Net Gain measures).

"There will also be areas of rough grassland/tussocky grassland for biodiversity.”

The planning document also explained: “The proposal, by reason of the substantial benefits resulting from the provision of renewable energy, together with the landscape enhancements and biodiversity net gains, which cumulatively outweigh the 'less than substantial harm' to heritage assets and the adverse impact to the visual amenity and landscape character, is considered to comprise sustainable development in accordance with the aims and objectives of the South Somerset Local Plan and the NPPF.”