Primrose Hall solar farm Planning Permission approval
Lanpro are pleased to have secured planning permission on behalf of Cell Energy for a 17.4 Mega Watt Solar Farm on land south of Primrose Hall, Wix, Harwich. The proposed development was unanimously granted planning permission on 17th March 2021 by Members of Tendring District Council’s Planning Committee.
The Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power around 5,000 homes each year, and will save over 143,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.
Members recognised that developments such as that proposed at Primrose Hall are needed if we are to reverse the climate crisis facing our planet, and ultimately considered that the benefits of the proposed development clearly outweighed the limited harm it will create. Cell Energy and its Project Team worked extremely hard to ensure that the impacts of the solar farm are minimised as far as possible. A range of measures are proposed to conserve and enhance the landscape. This includes allowing the existing hedgerows to grow taller, planting new trees and hedgerows and off-setting the panels from the boundary of the Site. A wildflower seed mix is to be planted between the panels, with hibernacula and bird nesting boxes at the margins. This will result in a significant enhancement in the Site’s biodiversity value. Furthermore, the permission is for a period of 30-years, after which the land will be reinstated for agricultural purposes
Lanpro have provided a range of services to Cell Energy in respect of the proposed development. These include planning, landscape and visual impact, archaeology and heritage services. The project was led by Claire Wilkinson, with support from Anna Oliveri (landscape), Paul Gajos (archaeology and heritage) and Tom Pike (planning).
The Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power around 5,000 homes each year, and will save over 143,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.
Members recognised that developments such as that proposed at Primrose Hall are needed if we are to reverse the climate crisis facing our planet, and ultimately considered that the benefits of the proposed development clearly outweighed the limited harm it will create. Cell Energy and its Project Team worked extremely hard to ensure that the impacts of the solar farm are minimised as far as possible. A range of measures are proposed to conserve and enhance the landscape. This includes allowing the existing hedgerows to grow taller, planting new trees and hedgerows and off-setting the panels from the boundary of the Site. A wildflower seed mix is to be planted between the panels, with hibernacula and bird nesting boxes at the margins. This will result in a significant enhancement in the Site’s biodiversity value. Furthermore, the permission is for a period of 30-years, after which the land will be reinstated for agricultural purposes
Lanpro have provided a range of services to Cell Energy in respect of the proposed development. These include planning, landscape and visual impact, archaeology and heritage services. The project was led by Claire Wilkinson, with support from Anna Oliveri (landscape), Paul Gajos (archaeology and heritage) and Tom Pike (planning).