Pembrokeshire planners will visit a site for a proposed 9.99MW solar farm and review concerns over farmland use.
Wessex Solar Energy wants approval for the farm, a 9.99MW project near Pembroke Dock. The planning committee will review it at their meeting on February 18th.
The solar farm covers three fields, equaling roughly 14 hectares. About 25,000 panels are planned, located 120 meters from the national park. The farm uses valuable agricultural land, but it also could power 3,296 homes with green energy each year, according to a report.
A bigger project failed in 2021; it was 22MW on 34.25 hectares. It was turned down due to land concerns too. Rules protect valuable farmland, stating that it should be saved for future use and building needs must be vital. Developers should use other land first.
The Welsh government is against the project, voicing concerns about the loss of farmland. They say it is hard to restore. Four people objected to the plan, and Cosheston council also has concerns, anxious about the use of prime land.
Charlotte Peacock was questioned at the meeting. She spoke about the land used, and a council member stressed farmland’s importance now. She said the farmer gets a steady income that would be better than crops, adding that climate change hurts crops more.
Tessa Hodgson wanted a site visit, suggesting poor land fits better and asking if energy offsets losing farmland. Hodgson’s request for a site visit was seconded by Mark Carter, and Hancock also wanted a site visit. Eleven members agreed to visit, which went against what officers wanted, and three members did not vote.