23 acre solar farm planned on the outskirts of Wisbech

DEVELOPERS today unveiled plans for a 23 acre solar farm on the outskirts of Wisbech.

The site is on land between Begdale and Elm and on a T shape field that developers say is mainly used for “agricultural pasture and grazing purposes”.

Fenland District Council has been asked for a preliminary assessment, mainly to determine if an environmental impact assessment is needed to accompany a detailed application.

Agents Richard Pike Associates insist that the farm is “extremely unlikely to give rise to significant environment effects”. They also insist the land use at present is not high grade agricultural.

“Views of the proposed solar farm will be partially screened by the tree plantation to the eastern boundary of the site,” says Richard Pike Associates in a planning statement.

“Site boundaries will be planted with additional vegetation to ensure visual screening of the solar farm and to provide varied habitat for local biodiversity”.

They also argue there will be no “adverse impacts” on the surrounding landscape and little impact on the environment.

If approved there will be a series of ground mounted solar panels using state of the art PV modules with thin film technology.

“Owing to the noiseless operation of the solar farm many species of birds settle and nest in adjacent hedges and on the wooden beams under the solar panels,” says Richard Pike Associates.