Berkeley
World’s End Solar Park
Introducing World’s End Solar Park
BSR Energy are preparing to submit an application to Stroud District Council for a Solar PV scheme off of Worlds End Lane, approximately 2.5 miles south west of the village of Berkeley and 1.5 miles south south-west of Magnox. The Solar scheme will have an approximate design capacity of 50MWp and would generate an estimated 47,500 MWh of clean, renewable and sustainable electricity per year. This is the equivalent to the annual electrical needs of approx. 12,501 family homes*. The anticipated CO2 displacement is around 11,702 tonnes per annum!.
* Based on an annual average domestic consumption per household (Great Britain) of 3,799 kWh. Source BEIS, Regional and Local authority electricity consumption statics 2018.
! Based on ‘Emissions associated with the generation of electricity at a power station (Electricity generation factors do not include transmission and distribution). Source BEIS, Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020.
The Purpose of this consultation
This webpage provides an overview of the proposal so members of the community can comment prior to the formal application being finalised and submitted. The pre- application consultation runs until Friday 15th January 2021.
The project is situated off Worlds End Lane and is approximately 2.5 miles south west of the village of Berkeley. The approximately 160 acres (64.62Ha) site will be located in a number of fields which are currently used for arable farming.
The proposed scheme will utilise land which is of poor agricultural grade (ALC Grade 4), furthermore potential benefits of avoiding large inputs of fertiliser, pesticides and herbicides into the land will assist in ecological benefits for wildlife and estuary birdlife too.
In addition to having solar panels on the site, the proposal also includes biodiversity and landscape enhancement measures, such as the gapping up of existing and planting of additional hedgerows to ensure there are minimal visual and environmental impacts.
More Information
Download Photomontage
Climate Change Act
This act requires the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to below 80% of the country’s 1990 levels by 2050. Both the Stroud Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework support and encourage this shift to renewable energy production.
Operational Lifespan and Decommissioning
The development would have a lifespan of approximately 45 years. At the end of the useful life of the facility, it will be decommissioned, with all associated equipment being removed. It is considered that the land can be quickly reverted to agricultural use following this.
Key Benefits
Economic
- There is now a growing demand for renewable energy sources within the UK as a result of increased awareness of the current climate emergency. Solar farms such as this development present an ideal solution given their relatively quick start up and low maintenance
- The proposal will provide long term and short term jobs and will support the diversification of an agricultural
Environmental
- The proposed development will minimise any potential impacts on the environment and in addition provide biodiversity net gains throughout the site.
- The proposed development will over its’ lifetime result in a net reduction of over 500,000 tonnes of CO2!. Solar farms such as this development are considered imperative to secure the carbon reductions which is a legislative requirement of the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order
- Access:
The site will be accessed from the existing access point, connecting to World’s End Lane, which runs centrally through the site. World’s End Lane connects to rural road network that provides access to both the A38 and the M5, which run parallel to the site to the east.
It is considered that the existing access to the site would be suitable for construction and maintenance vehicles and once the development becomes operational, it is considered that there will be very little additional traffic created by the development and the duration of the construction period being short due to the nature of the development.
- Location
- Land at Worlds End Farm, Clapton, Berkeley, GL13 9RA
- Technology
- Solar PV (ground mounted)
- Size
- 50MW design capacity
- Land size (approx.)
- 160 acres (64.62Ha)
- DNO
- Western Power Distribution (WPD)
- Land designation
- Agricultural
- Planning Consent duration
- Application is for 45 years
- Planning submission date
- May 2021
- Planning decision date
- August 2021
Documentation
Key statistics and facts about solar parks
Solar Photovoltaics
Batteries