Yelland solar farm plan is unveiled
Ground mounted solar panels. Generic image for illustration purposes only. - Credit: Archant
A 25-acre, 20,000 unit scheme is revealed for land at Lower Yelland Farm.
Plans have been unveiled for a 25-acre solar farm at Yelland.
Solar ventures Limited is proposing to put the 5.5MW farm containing some 20-22,000 solar modules on land alongside the Tarka Trail.
Representatives from the Bristol-based company held an exhibition at Fremington Church Hall today (Monday) to meet residents and answer questions.
They said the solar arrays on land next to Lower Yelland Farm would be 1.8 metres high and the facility would generate enough electricity to power 2,200 homes.
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Glen Crocker for Solar ventures said it was very early days, but they hoped to submit a planning application within two months.
“If successful, I understand they would be looking to build next year,” he said.
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“There would be plants all the way around the site, so the whole site would be screened completely.”
There is already local opposition to the plan – Yelland resident Jim Bell said any development north of the B3233 was ‘a no no in the emerging local plan’.
“You would be able to see it for miles around, from the other side of the estuary and from the main road,” he said.
District Councillor Rodney Cann said in his role as lead member for the environment he was concerned for the impact it would have on the estuary, Biosphere and adjacent RSPB reserve.
“It’s a crackpot scheme that would have a devastating impact, it’s complete madness and I can’t believe they would even consider it,” he said.
UKIP member Michael Pagram said it was the ‘industrialisation of the estuary’ and called for the proposals to be part of an independent survey of the Yelland area to be commissioned by North Devon Council.
