Developers reveal key details about 1,100 hectare solar farm plan

Developers have unveiled more details of their plans for a 1,100 hectare solar farm. Meridian Solar Farm Ltd wants to build a series of solar arrays on four parcels of land running between Crowland, Shepeau Stow and Sutton St Edmund - if they get the green light from the Government. The total size of the development would be large than the entire village of Cowbit .

The firm, which is a subsidiary of Downing Renewable Developments, launched the second phase of its consultation for the 750MW solar farm on Thursday (April 24) and has now released more information about their plans for the development. An information booklet issued as part of the consultation outlines it’s preferred route for 12 to 13km of overhead lines to transport to hook up the solar farm to the proposed Weston Marsh substation as well as what is planned at all four sites. This consultation also states that construction work could start in 2027 with the build expected to take 24 to 36 months and with the site not being operational until 2029.



It also outlines that around £500,000 a year could be made available for community benefit and that the development could help the ‘recovery’ of topsoil on the agricultural land. The document states: “Meridian Solar has the potential to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero and make a significant contribution towards achieving the government’s targets, while also increasing national energy security at a time of both rising energy bills and the increasing urgency to tackle the climate emergency.” The brochure also gives its response to concerns raised in the first round of consultation which includes traffic, health and safety, visual impact and agriculture.

It states that surveys of the four sites found a mixture of Grades 1, 2 and 3 but states that the solar farm will not ‘degrade’ soil quality. The information booklet states: “Instead, during the operation of the scheme, solar PV areas will remain under a grass cover which will facilitate a recovery of topsoil organic matter.” Concerns were also raised about building a solar farm in a flood risk area but the firm says it has been in consultation with the Environment Agency along with undertaking it’s own flooding modelling.

It goes onto say: “There is a precedent for solar farms being developed in areas prone to flooding. Solar farms are classified as essential national infrastructure and can therefore be developed within typically wetter landscapes, subject to assessments carried out.” The document also states that the developer is also holding talks with National Grid on whether it could link the solar farm directly up to the Walpole to Grimsby pylon route rather than going to the proposed Weston Marsh substation.

It also outlines the reasons for the site connection, which includes finding large parcels of land. The newsletter goes onto say: “Our assessments have concluded our proposed site is the most appropriate, and there are no suitable alternative sites located closer to the planned Weston Marsh substation.” Meridian is looking to use land in Cloot Drove and Queen’s Bank, near Crowland, along with a site in Martin’s Road, which sits between Moulton East Fen and Shepeau Stow.

It is also eyeing up land in Langary Gate, which is in Fleet Fen and Sutton St Edmund. Developers say that they will not put any infrastructure on one part of the Cloot Drove site to ‘reduce potential effects’ on Crowland Airfield. Nor is it placing infrastructure on parts of the Martin’s Road site as it is close to a scheduled monument.

The developers also state that the panels could be installed at a height of 5.7m above ground in a ‘worst case scenario’ in flood prone areas but that maximum of 4.25m would be more ‘realistic’.

This information booklet also states that the infrastructure on the site could include transformers, inverters and switchgear along with on-site cabling and battery storage. Developers have still to decide on whether to use overhead lines or underground cables to link all the parcels of land together. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

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