Proposed Solar Farm in NE Hereford

We have received details from TEKSS Energy of a solar power proposal near Westhide, to the north-east of Hereford.

The scheme, which is currently in planning (P214619/F), is for a ground-mounted solar power proposal of circa 34.6 megawatts on largely lower-grade agricultural land. The firm lists the environmental and ecological benefits associated with the scheme as follows:

  • Enough electricity to cover the needs of 12,500 homes on an annual basis – equivalent to around 38% of the number of households in the Hereford locality, and offsetting around 8,400 tonnes of CO2 annually. (The environmental benefit figures are based on 34.6MW of installed solar PV, operating with a 12% capacity factor, a Typical Domestic Consumption Value (TDCV) for a medium-use household of 2900kWh per annum (Ofgem 2020), UK government figures on the carbon emissions for homes on the average energy fuel mix (2019) and 2011 Census figures).
  • 48 hectares of species-rich grassland being created underneath the panels
  • 0.5 hectares of wild bird seed
  • 1.24km of new hedgerow and 2.2km of enhanced hedgerow
  • 10 bat boxes, 10 bird boxes and 5 reptile hibernacula
  • A Biodiversity Net Gain calculation showing the scheme creating a 134% increase in habitat and a 62% increase in hedgerow

They add that the site and the proposal have been thoroughly assessed for impacts relating to ecology, landscape, land grade, flood risk and noise, and the site has been found to be a suitable location to host this type of development, generating substantial environmental benefits with minimal impacts on the setting. Further project information is available on the project website: Click here

The proposal is currently out for consultation by Herefordshire Council. To view the consultation Click here  Commenting on this planning application through the Council website is now closed. Representations may however be submitted directly to the case officer if the application has not yet been determined.

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