A controversial solar farm has received the go-ahead on high-quality agricultural land in North East Somerset, amid debates over the trade-off between preserving farmland and generating clean energy.
Situated east of Paulton, the new installation is poised to supply enough electricity annually for 3,210 homes. However, some concerns have been raised about sacrificing prime farmland, with 60% of the solar farm's 15.64-hectare site occupying grade 3a agricultural soil, considered among the "best and most versatile" for crops.
Developer PACE argued the land is predominantly used for beef farming and said that sheep could still graze amongst the solar panels under a "tried and tested" layout.
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Luke Shackleton, the development manager at PACE, said: "Growing up on a beef and sheep farm myself in Somerset, I can assure you that our proposal is of no threat to food security. Cattle and sheep are very similar in terms of food conversion rate."
The project also entails placing 49 shipping containers on site, of which 36 will offer battery storage capabilities for storing energy until it is most needed.
At a Bath and North East Somerset Council planning committee session on June 4, local resident Daniel Keynes expressed opposition, noting that the scale and visibility of this solar initiative differed significantly from others.
He said: "This is an over the top, highly visible, full on, major power generation proposal on an industrial scale."
Paulton councillor and chair of the parish council's planning committee, Liz Hardman (Labour), has voiced her support for the proposed solar farm plans. She remarked: "It appears the majority of local people, especially in my area of Paulton are in favour of this plan."
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Hardman believes the project will not significantly affect the Paulton area, citing its ideal location nestled between two higher land areas and currently shielded by hedgerows. She also expressed her view that the loss of reasonable quality farmland is a worthwhile trade-off for the advantages of renewable energy in this instance.
The solar farm, while next to Paulton, falls within the Midsomer Norton North council ward, whose councillors are members of the planning committee and have raised objections. Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent) acknowledged receiving mixed feedback from constituents.
He said: "I'm on board with the idea of solar but I think this is totally the wrong place.
"This isn't just being fields with solar panels with sheep grazing underneath. This is a huge industrial development with 36 containers of batteries plus 13 containers of [transformers] and converters."
Tim Warren, representing Midsomer Norton North for the Conservatives, questioned the overall environmental gain of the solar farm, taking into account its production and eventual decommissioning.
He relayed that a farmer, who had switched to a solar farm, could no longer produce silage and had to drive his tractor to Nailsea to procure some – a journey which not only increased the carbon footprint but also disrupted traffic.
He added: "You're building almost a metal town there between Midsomer Norton and Radstock. So I can't support this."
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The planning committee, however, cast their votes 7-3 in favour of the solar farm plans. The approved permission grants the farm a 45-year operation period, after which it will be dismantled and the land will revert to agricultural use.
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