Plans for another large solar farm near Grazeley are looming.
Plans are underway for a large solar farm near Grazeley, as applicants have submitted a screening request to West Berkshire Council to determine if an environmental impact assessment is necessary for the 210-acre agricultural site north of Goring Lane.
This site is adjacent to the council’s proposed Bloomfield Hatch solar farm, which aims to install over 57,000 panels. Funded by West Berkshire Council, this £19 million investment is expected to generate revenue for the district despite annual running costs of £2 million.
Originally estimated at £10 million, the plan faced numerous objections from locals and the parish council, who were concerned that the density of the panels would disrupt the rural character of the area.
The new proposal, submitted by One Planet Developments, is still in the early stages with no formal objections yet filed, as the screening process determines the need for a full Environmental Impact Assessment.
Local apprehensions regarding the solar farm include loss of agricultural land and food security, with Wokefield Parish Council previously advocating for the land to remain in food production.
Mitigation measures proposed by the council include biodiversity initiatives and sheep grazing under the panels, alongside planting wildflower meadows and installing bird and bat boxes.
Despite these proposals, concerns linger about the visual impact, loss of hedgerows, and drainage issues. While some argue climate change concerns outweigh the loss of farmland, others feel food production is being sacrificed too soon.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
