A new solar farm is proposed to be built on farmland next to a small Cambridgeshire village.
Plans have been submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council to install solar panels across a number of fields off Vicarage Lane in Diddington, directly west of the A1.
If the application is approved the solar farm is expected to generate 35MW of electricity, which is due to be provided to Anglian Water.
The company behind the plans for the new solar farm, Cell Energy Limited, said it has an agreement with Anglian Water to provide the company with the energy generated by the solar farm.
An underground cable is proposed to be buried to connect the solar farm to Anglian Water’s facility at Grafham Water, which the planning application said was a “very significant energy user”.
In planning documents submitted as part of the planning application it said the Vicarage Lane site was chosen due to its close location to the reservoir.
The solar farm is proposed to cover around 45 hectares of land and is expected to have a 45-year operational period.
In the planning statement, developers said: “The proposals will provide a clean, renewable and sustainable form of electricity and will make a valuable contribution at the local level.
“The proposed development will add to the district’s progress in meeting its renewable energy target and will also assist in meeting national targets for both energy supply and low carbon energy development.
“The principle of renewable energy, including solar power, is supported by both national and local planning policy.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here