PLANS for a huge solar park which will create enough energy to power nearly 5,000 homes and save 4,208 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year have been given the go-ahead.
Maldon District Council has approved the Dengie Solar Park which will use 33 hectares of land, more than 60 football fields, on a site south of Keelings Road.
It is planned to generate power for 4,751 homes.
This development by BSR Energy, the UK's leading private integrated solar developer, was originally submitted last April but was refused by the council due to flood risk and environmental concerns, including the potential harm to water birds.
The plans were altered and resubmitted with several amendments which included the relocation of the Distribution Network Operator substation and Battery Storage Units.
A ‘Flood Risk Sequential Test’ was also carried out to demonstrate there were no other suitable land parcels which had a lower risk of flooding.
To mitigate the impact on the wildlife, a Farmland Bird Mitigation Strategy and Habitat Regulation Assessment were also conducted.
BSR Energy also revised the landscape and visual assessment to emphasise the "positive impact of some included proposals and mitigations".
Carla Hardaker, development director at BSR Energy, said: “We are delighted to have received planning permission.
“Dengie Solar Park will aid Maldon District Council in addressing the Climate Emergency it declared in February 2021 and in achieving its aim of becoming a carbon neutral district by 2030.”
“The transition to renewable electricity is crucial if the UK Government is to reach its target of net zero by 2040.
“Dengie Solar Park and other similar projects are essential to help the nation meet its targets.”
BSR Energy provides more than 600,000-megawatt hours of renewable energy annually across the UK, powering an average of 159,000 UK homes with renewable energy er and avoiding 140,000 tonnes of CO2 being released.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2025, with the expectation that the site will become operational within six months.
The UK Government has set a target of reducing emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
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