Ombersley could welcome a huge 64 acre solar panel farm

JUST over 64 acres of land in a Worcestershire village could soon be a solar farm.

Canterbury-based Tyler Hill Renewables wants to cover farmland in Comhampton, near Ombersley and Sytchampton, with rows of solar panels.

If the plan is given the green light, the site could be known as Comhampton Solar Farm, located on fields at Comhampton and Little Acton.

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The developer still needs to submit a planning application but has instead put forward a public consultation, allowing residents and businesses to voice their opinions before submission.

The site would comprise several large fields in two separate parcels and could be connected by underground cables to the local electricity network.

Tyler Hill Renewables hopes the development will export around 18 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy to the area, benefiting about 7760 homes annually.

In the application, Tyler Hill Renewable said: "The solar farm will be designed to allow sheep to graze under and around the panels during operation, providing a dual benefit of agriculture and energy generation.

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"No agricultural land will be lost as the land will be reinstated to its former use at the end of the lifecycle of the solar project, estimated to be between 25 and 40 years.

"Several site options on farmland were assessed, and the proposed site was chosen as meeting all development criteria, providing the greatest benefits and having the fewest environmental or cultural constraints.

"The layout has been designed to minimise the impact on nearby residents, including setting the development away from properties, retaining and planting new hedges for screening and using Owlhill Lane as the main site access.

"At the end of its 40-year operational life, the equipment will be removed and the entire site restored to its current use."

A consultation is set to take place today for the public to have its say.

It will take place at Hartlebury Parish Hall on Waresley Court Road between 4.30pm and 7.30pm today (Wednesday).

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