PLANS for a solar farm on land to the south of Earls Common Road are to be submitted to Wychavon District Council (WDC).
This comes after WDC said that JBM Solar’s proposals are likely to have a drastic impact on the environment and have requested that they provide a full Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) with their planning application.
JBM Solar say the plans include a revised layout, with around six acres of panels removed to respond to concerns from residents living near to the site.
They say they are also committed to further enhancements to the bridlepaths and is undertaking a biodiversity net gain review to ensure opportunities for positive change are maximised.
Since the initial feedback from residents, JBM Solar has also proposed an increase in the Community Benefit Fund, which will be more than trebled to £180,000.
They claim this will help to fund the delivery of rooftop solar installations on community buildings and other sustainable initiatives locally.
Phil Coathup, chair of Roundhill Wood Solar Farm Opposition Group said: “I think JBM Solar must be getting a little desperate and feel that their proposal is in jeopardy.
“The situation they are describing in their press release is not how anyone else sees it.
“They have yet to agree with Wychavon District Council the scope of the assessments that need to go into their planning application – so we fail to see how they can ‘shortly’ submit their plans.
“JBM have constantly underplayed this scale and size, they claim the proposal is ‘temporary’ – but they are asking for 40 years.”
Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch, said: “In a recent debate, I made it clear to the Minister that his proposal is not an example of good design, placemaking or sustainability by plonking hundreds of acres of solar panels on good agricultural land.
“In my view a very good reason that this land ought to be used to grow food, especially at this time of war in Ukraine when we as a nation should be shoring up our food security. Solar panels should instead be installed on rooftops, car parks, office buildings or brownfield land.
“This just isn’t right and I will continue to lobby the Government to make sure we’re not building on good agricultural land.”
