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Nythe Road solar farm threat returns
Last year, together with local people, we fought plans for a huge solar power plant on the Somerset Levels. Happily, we won…… but now the developers have tweaked their plans and are trying again to get planning permission so we are ready to fight once more!
We are living in a climate emergency. CPRE Somerset wants to see more of our energy coming from clean, renewable sources and we encourage more rooftop solar. We believe that solar panels must be sited in the most suitable places, reducing environmental damage and loss of our green fields.
This is the wrong development in the wrong place
If approved, Nythe Road Solar Park will cover 15 fertile green fields with solar panels. That’s an area of 132.5 acres. There is already a 40 acre solar plant right next door – this is what you can see in the photo above and in solid blue on the map below. This new scheme is really just an extension of that. If it is approved this 172.5 acre expanse of PV panels will be one of the largest in the Southwest.
The land is so boggy that the existing solar panels nearby need to be propped up regularly, by bringing in new aggregates, to stop them sinking. That means more heavy lorries on narrow lanes and more damage to the soil structure. It is ironic that, only a few miles away, at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Honeygar Farm, the peat is being deliberately rewetted to increase it’s potential to absorb carbon. Shouldn’t that be a possible alternative here, instead of industrialising the green fields with metal and glass, in the name of helping to fight climate change?
Fancy a game of spot the difference?
As you can see, the new plans are almost identical to the ones refused just over a year ago! The only difference is that one field on the north-eastern edge of the site will no longer have any panels. Not surprisingly, we feel that our previous reasons for objecting are still valid.
Why we are objecting – again!
We need renewable energy but we also need our countryside. That is why CPRE’s Rooftop Renewables campaign is calling for more rooftop solar on commercial buildings and new homes.
There are certainly solar farms in Somerset that are well designed and well placed in the landscape. There are those that provide significant community benefits. Unfortunately, in our opinion, Nythe Road Solar Park is not one of these and that is why we are fighting it again. Our main reasons for objecting are:
Damage to landscape
No amount of screening could hide the visual impact of this huge industrial power plant in our countryside. As well as fields full of rows and rows of metal and glass solar panels, there will be perimeter security fencing – all in place for 40 years. The plans also include a permanent brick substation building right next to a Public Right of Way.
The pictures below show the view now and a mock up of how the same view would look with the solar panels in place.
Loss of farmland
99% of the land to be covered in solar panels is classified as ‘best and most versatile’ or BMV. Government planning policy says that BMV land should not be used for energy-based projects.
The local campaign group SOS levels are working hard to oppose this application. Their website explains how you can add your voice and tell Somerset Council Planners what you think.
Three local Parish Councils are affected- High Ham PC, Ashcott PC and Walton PC and will all object. The local community strongly oppose this threat to their countryside and we are happy to stand alongside them.
You can read our objection to the original application for Nythe Road Solar Farm here CPRE Somerset objection letter-Nythe Rd Solar Farm
You can read the landscape statement commissioned by SOS Levels and CPRE Somerset in response to the original application here Nythe Road Solar Farm Landscape Statement- The Landscape Practice
