PLANS for an 80-acre solar near Somerton have been submitted – providing 40 years of power.

The scheme, on land north of the town, would see 11 arable fields house 572 ‘module racks’ of panels, capable of generating 20MW of electricity and would be developed by Sky UK Development Ltd.

A new access to the site would be created on Sale Piece Drove, alongside an existing access in Somerton Door Drove.

After 40 years, the site would be decommissioned and returned to the current state and arable use, the application said.

A CCTV security system would be included in the development, as well as a number of ‘inverter huts’ and transformer cabinets.

“The proposed development will comprise the construction of solar panels mounted on metal frames, inverters, auxiliary transformer, substation, storage container, DNO substation, new access tracks, underground cabling, perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gates, landscaping, temporary construction compound and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated site works,” the application said.

Hundreds of solar panels could be installed on the site, north of Somerton. Picture: NEO Environmental/Somerset Council

It added: “The area surrounding the site is generally characterised by open agricultural fields, associated agricultural uses, small woodland blocks and the neighbouring solar farm just 30m south of the site.

“However, there are a number of isolated clusters of farmsteads and residential properties located within the wider surrounds of the site, while the residential settlement of Somerton falls within a short distance of the site and contains a variety of uses.”

It said existing trees and hedgerows would be retained where possible, with more than 1,200m of hedgerows planted, as well as screening planting.

Construction would take around 18 months, the plans said.

For more details, and to comment on the scheme, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 25/01694/FUL.

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