Belltown Power will present their proposals for a renewable energy project on land 0.7 miles to the east of Swindon and 1.2 miles north of Wanborough village, Swindon.
The site, known as Mount Pleasant, is being brought forward by Belltown Power and will meet the equivalent energy needs of approximately 16,426 homes per year.
The proposed 35MWac solar farm would be able to generate enough green energy to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 16,000 homes for 40 years.
Belltown Power is an established clean energy company at the leading edge of project development in the UK. Founded in 2013 by a team of highly experienced renewable energy professionals, it has successfully delivered over 200MW of now operating wind, solar, and hydropower capacity across Scotland, Wales and England.
Prior to submission, Belltown will be holding a community engagement event on Thursday 20 March at Wanborough Parish Council’s Sports Pavilion, 3pm – 7pm.
Once the site is operational, Belltown will be providing a community benefit and education fund of £680,000 over the lifetime of the project. This funding will help support local initiatives such as rooftop solar on community buildings or conservation projects as well as funding for local primary schools to visit the sites and hold classroom workshops.
Solar farms don’t just generate clean electricity and help tackle the climate emergency, they have the potential to become havens for wildlife, increasing local biodiversity. Enhanced landscaping including new trees and hedgerows will both screen the site and provide valuable habitats for a wide variety of animals. New wildflower meadows and beehives will support pollinators, alongside insect hotels and bird boxes.
Ben Thorne, from Belltown Power said: “We are very much looking forward to speaking to members of the community about our plans for Mount Pleasant. If approved, this solar farm will provide much-needed renewable energy, helping to decarbonise the electricity network and support Swindon Council in meeting its net zero carbon emissions targets.”
A planning application for a new solar farm near Swindon will be submitted in late spring / early summer to Swindon Council.
For further information about the scheme, please visit Mount Pleasant’s website www.mountpleasantsolarfarm.com.
Your Comments
Be the first to comment on this article
Login or Register to post a comment on this article