CONTROVERSIAL plans for a solar farm on land to the south of Earls Common Road have been submitted to Wychavon District Council (WDC).
This comes after nearly a year of consultations and changes to the plans by JBM Solar.
Last November WDC said JBM Solar’s proposals were likely to have a drastic impact on the environment and requested the company provided a full Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) with its planning application.
JBM Solar has included the EIA with its proposal and claims the site would include picnic areas, permissive paths, a visitor car park, a community orchard, enhanced public rights of way, an educational trail and outdoor classroom.
The site is also set to become a wildlife haven through the creation of a 279 acres of grassland area including 5km of new hedgerow planting, four acres of new trees, a new watercourse and ponds, wildflower meadow and beehives.
Phil Coathup, chair of Roundhill Wood Solar Farm Opposition Group said: “Wychavon District Council is in the process of checking and validating the application, so the application contents have not yet been published.
“No doubt when they are, we will look at the proposals very carefully.”
Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch, said: “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.”
A spokesperson for JBM Solar said: “The Roundhill Solar Farm is a great opportunity to provide sustainable and renewable energy for years to come.
“Increasing the proportion of renewable energy is key in supporting Wychavon District Council’s net zero carbon goals.
“If approved this scheme could be generating clean and cheap renewable electricity to help keep the lights on and bills down from winter 2024 onwards.”
