News / Climate
Solar farm approved on outskirts of Bristol
Council chiefs have given the green light to plans for a solar farm on the outskirts of Bristol.
South Gloucestershire Council has given the go-ahead for the Codrington Solar Farm, in the hopes it will provide power to up to 4,400 households.
The 18.75MW solar project is being developed by Renewable Connections, one of the UK’s leading solar and battery developers, and will be situated just outside of Wapley, a rural village in the greater Bristol postcode.
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Developers say the site will have landscape, ecological and biodiversity benefits, as well as a community benefit fund of £37,000.
The plans were approved on Friday, following a recommendation for approval by South Gloucestershire Council.
Renewable Connections development director, John Leith said he was “delighted” to have received approval.
“South Gloucestershire council understands that urgent action is required to limit the environmental impacts produced by the climate crisis and many have now declared their own climate emergency,” he said.
“Aside from the obvious low carbon, home-grown energy the solar farm will deliver, it has also been designed to allow a raft of landscape, ecological and biodiversity benefits,” he added.
“This includes barn owl and bird nesting boxes, beehives, log piles, restoration of field boundaries and other methods of hibernacula.”
South Gloucestershire Council declared a climate emergency in May 2019 and pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Renewable Connections has committedto six per cent of the council’s energy to be provided by local renewable sources by 2028, 25 per cent by 2036 and 100 per cent by 2050 as part of the UK100 pledge.
The solar farm’s construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025 and will include the installation of photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight directly into sustainable energy.
Main photo: Renewable Connections
Read next:
- Delays hit plan to boost renewable power in Bristol
- New film studios to be powered by community-owned solar panels
- South West households encouraged to apply for energy efficiency funding
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