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Site Selection
The site is considered suitable for a solar farm as:
It does not include any Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land, being all grade 3b.
South Hams lies within the highest 2% of sunlight hours in the UK, with no shading on the site.
Importantly, a grid connection close to the site has been secured (within 1.5 km, the maximum viable distance). There are currently no new grid connections available within South Hams due to the requirement for significant reinforcement works. If this grid connection is not used this opportunity to generate solar power in the South Hams could be lost. Solar Arrays in South Hams, Interim Planning Guidance Section 3.2, recognises that “solar development needs to be situated within reach of a grid connection with sufficient capacity to accept the exported energy from the installation.”
Easy access to the site and the A38.
Existing natural screening and topography ensures minimal visual impact.
Design and Visual Impact
The solar farm would feature:
Fixed photovoltaic (PV) panels laid out in rows running from east to west across the site.
Panels mounted on steel posts driven approximately 1.5m into the ground. No concrete is used, with the exception of foundations for the transformer stations.
The solar panels’ height has been reduced from the usual 2.5m to 1.5m to minimise visual impact.
Effective screening by existing hedges and trees, which would be allowed to grow to a height of 3 – 3.5m. Any gaps would be filled with new indigenous hedgerow planting respecting the area’s character.
A new Devon hedge bank built along the northern boundary.
Standard deer proof fencing for security (2m high), with CCTV poles and cameras at intervals facing directly down the fence line. They operate on an infrared system at night so there is no need for external lighting.
The supporting electrical equipment (inverters and transformers) emits low levels of noise which dissipates quickly and would not be audible from outside the site boundaries.
Solar panels are designed to absorb light rather than to reflect it and still generate energy on a cloudy day. Glint and glare has been assessed and is not anticipated to be an issue.
Access, Construction and Maintenance
The fields have easy access through existing farm gates south of the site, which would be used by both construction and operational traffic, and is already frequently used by large farm vehicles.
During construction, deliveries would take place over a 12-week period. The average number of large vehicle movements would be approximately 10 per week. A Construction Traffic Management Plan has been submitted with the application.
Cotswold Archaeology have carried out a full geophysical survey of the whole site area which confirms that almost all of the area is free from archaeological sensitivity. In some small areas of suspected archaeological remains we are working with the heritage officer on mitigation strategies.
Once the site is operational, a specialist land management team would maintain it and implement the ecological plan. A minimal number of vehicle movements would be required for monitoring, maintenance and cleaning, which is normally carried out by a small van. The panels are self-cleaning when it rains, so do not require cleaning more than once a year.