Berkeley

World’s End Solar Park

Berkeley

World’s End Solar Park

British Solar Renewables (BSR Energy) has received planning consent for a new 49.99MW solar development, World’s End Solar Park near Berkely in Gloucestershire.

World’s End Solar Park will make a positive contribution to net zero aims, providing clean, renewable energy to at least 12,501* homes and will offset approximately 11,702^! tonnes of CO2^! (Carbon Dioxide) per year. The solar development will also have a significant positive impact on its local environment, delivering combined biodiversity net-gains of over 68% in habitat and hedgerow. Well above the 10% target outlined in the Environment Act.

After a positive consultation period, including a public consultation event, the planning application was submitted in May 2021. During this time BSR Energy continued to carry out further ecological and landscaping works, amend the site layout in order to avoid possible archaeological remains and ensure appropriate flood mitigation was incorporated into the design of the site.

* 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.

47,500 MWh

of clean, renewable and sustainable electricity per year.

Location

The project is situated off Worlds End Lane and is approximately 2.5 miles southwest of the village of Berkeley and 1.5 miles south south-west of Magnox. The approximately 160 acres (64.62Ha) site will be located in a number of fields which are currently used for arable farming.

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.

The solar park will feature the latest technology from the industry, with a primary focus to maximise the yield over the given area.

Location: Land at Worlds End Farm, Clapton, Berkeley, GL13 9RA
Technology: Solar PV (ground mounted)
Size: 50 MW (Mega Watts) design capacity
Land size (approx.): 64.62Ha (160 acres)
DNO: NGED (National Grid Electricity Distribution)
Land designation: Agricultural
Estimated Biodiversity Net Gain: 68.51%
Planning Consent duration: Application is for 45 years
Planning submission date: May 2021
Planning decision date: July 2023

What are the benefits of the Solar Park?:

The main benefits of the consented development are summarised below;

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 presents an ideal solution given their relatively quick start up and low maintenance.
The development will provide short term jobs and will support the diversification of an agricultural business.

Environmental

The development will minimise any potential impacts on the environment and in addition provide biodiversity net gains throughout the site.
The 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.
Enhancement measures to the biodiversity and landscape will be fulfilled, such as, new hedgerow planting to contain and screen the solar arrays from its surroundings in order to minimise the visual and environmental impacts.

The development is implementing a Skylark Mitigation and Management Plan, creating plots to provide suitable foraging areas for the species during the breeding season, whilst avoiding impacts to nesting birds or opportunities for winter foraging.

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.
The existing access to the site would be suitable for construction and maintenance vehicles. Once 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.