An underground electrical cable relating to an approved Isle of Wight solar farm could be installed along a roughly 2.5km route through rural farmland.
Samuel Dix of Low Carbon Solar Park 17 Limited has applied to County Hall for planning permission to install an underground cable between the proposed Barnfield Solar Farm, on land east of Wilmingham Lane and west of Broad Lane, and Shalfleet substation, near Ningwood Manor Farm.
The Isle of Wight Council granted Low Carbon planning permission to build Barnfield Solar Farm in September 2023.
In a letter to planners, Mr Dix wrote:
“The cable requires the progressive digging of a trench between 400 millimetres and 700 millimetres wide and an approximately one metre depth.
“The trench will be dug and backfilled in sections with approximately 150 metres per day being completed.
“In total the work is likely to take around two weeks to complete with a further three to four weeks for the remaining section of the cable within the public highway (already approved).
“The trench will be backfilled with the same material removed during digging and reseeded with grass (in areas previously grassed), or re-surfaced with Tarmac where located in the public highway.”
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He said ‘protected species or priority habitats’ being ‘adversely affected’ by the proposed development would be ‘highly unlikely’.
The council’s public consultation on the application will end on 28th March and a decision has been scheduled for 26th May.
Whats the point all bollocks nothing ever cheaper..