Very Special Circumstances justifying Have your say development in the Greenbelt Please provide any comments you have on • Supporting the UK’s transition to a low carbon future, and the proposal either via the project website, or meeting the legally binding target of net zero emissions by by email or post using the details provided. 2050; Comments provided by the local community Marksbury will be taken into account in shaping the final • Significant contribution towards meeting the local targets planning application submission. for renewable energy generation by 2026 that BANES has identified through its renewable energy evidence base; Public consultation event • Providing renewable energy to meet the needs of 4,700 Solar Farm Wednesday 21 July, 7pm homes; Register at marksburyplainsolar.co.uk A proposed 15MW solar farm on Land at Marksbury Plain, • Significant contribution towards addressing BANES’s declaration of a climate emergency and its carbon neutral Marksbury, Bath. pledge; • Economic benefits in terms of investment and job creation as FAQ's well as indirect and induced economic benefits; • Retention of the site’s future use as agricultural land via a Why solar? time-restricted development of 40 years; Solar is one of the cleanest, lowest cost forms Renewable Connections is investigating the of energy available. Marksbury Solar Farm will • Net gain for biodiversity via wildlife planting, bird & bat boxes. potential for a solar energy project in Marksbury, Proposed Quick make a meaningful contribution to Bath & NE Bath. Once operational, the project would supply Somerset’s energy needs. enough power for 4,700 homes, and save 7,600 timeline facts tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of taking Does solar pose a health risk? 4,409 cars off the road. No - solar doesn’t produce any harmful by- products. Are solar farms noisy? No – solar As we prepare a planning application to submit to Site selection farms are not noisy, producing no more than Bath & North East Somerset Council, Renewable Winter 2020 normal background levels of sound similar Connections is undertaking a consultation process to wind or distant traffic beyond the site to inform local communities of our proposed plans boundary. About us and invite any feedback. 7,600 tonnes of CO2 Renewable Connections was established in early saved annually Will there be any permanent impact? 2020 to deliver solar energy projects across the UK. Solar farms are temporary and the land will The Renewable Connections team is one of the Preliminary be fully reinstated to farmland once the most experienced renewable energy teams in the Have your say surveys equipment is removed at the end of the UK having developed over 1GW of solar projects Summer 2021 project life. globally since 2010. Please register via the project website, marksburyplainsolar.co.uk where you can also Will there be any impacts on local roads? Our team is committed to developing high quality find more information on the project and our For a period of approximately 6 months projects which see benefits delivered locally and plans. during construction, there will be deliveries we are committed to listening to local people in Public Event 17,000 megawatt hours of equipment to site. Renewable Connections advance of any planning submission. Renewable We welcome any comments you have on the Wed 21 July, 7pm supplied each year will put in place measures to manage Connections is working in partnership European proposal either via the project website, or by email Held online impacts of construction traffic and these Energy, one of the largest renewable energy inves- or post using the details provided. Comments measures will be included in a Construction tors in Europe. provided by the local community will be taken into Traffic Management Plan that will submitted account in shaping the final planning application with the planning application. There will be submission. infrequent maintenance visits to the site Application during operation. Contact us Late summer 2021 marksburyplainsolar T - 01761 502152 Equivalent annual What are the benefits to the local @renewableconnections.co.uk E - marksburyplainsolar@ energy needs of 4,700 community? – renewableconnections.co.uk homes Renewable Connections is committed to Marksbury Plains Solar A - Marksbury Solar c/o Pegasus Group, First maximising benefits for the local community. C/O Renewable Connections Holdings Limited Floor, Equinox North, Great Park Road, Construction The project will support local businesses, 3rd Floor, 141 – 145 Curtain Road, Bristol, BS32 4QL Construction provide enhanced business rates, and provide London, EC2A 3BX Spring 2022 wildlife benefits across the site. We are also – committed to ensuring the site and land www.marksburyplainsolar.co.uk surrounding it is available for recreational use through the solar park operation Register for our online events at: 30 hectares of land marksburyplainsolar.co.uk The proposed HUNSTRETE MARKSBURY site The site proposed for Marksbury Solar Farm comprises agricultural land bounded by the A368 to the north and the A39 to the east. The Design Sheep Grazing Footpaths project is located in the Bath & Bristol greenbelt. Sheep will graze the solar farm The panels will avoid more once constructed, retaining The two existing public rights prominent areas and limit The site is made up of five agricultural fields to the agricultural use of the land of way will be preserved and proximity to local residences. the west of the settlement of Marksbury. The alongside the generation of enhanced to improve access solar farm will be connected to the existing local renewable energy. through the site. electricity infrastructure via an underground cable. Two public rights of way run north/south within the site, and these will be retained and enhanced during the operation of the solar farm. The site has been carefully located to minimise impact on residents and the local community, with development set back from Biodiversity neighbouring properties, and the existing hedgerows enhanced to ensure any potential enhancement views into the site are well-screened. A range of wildlife enhancements will be implemented throughout The panels and associated infrastructure will Agricultural the site to provide a net take up less than a third of the land within land biodiversity gain for key species the site, allowing for significant biodiversity and habitats. We have carried EXISTING enhancement during the life of the solar farm. out an Agricultural Our plans are still in the development stages, Land Classification SOLAR SITE so our design proposals will evolve as we gather assessment, which local input and the results of our environmental has confirmed the assessments. land grading is 3b and therefore not Best & Most Versatile land. Access Vehicles will enter the site via an existing farm entrance which Why here? minimises the distance from the main road. Bath and NE Somerset declared a be suitable for ground-mounted solar Climate Emergency in March 2019 and development based on the criteria are committed to contributing to UK above. There is therefore an opportunity renewable energy targets. to realise significant environmental benefits for the local area by installing A technical review of the potential area a solar farm on this site, which will New planting suitable for ground-mounted solar outweigh the potential harm caused Existing and new hedgerows development in the BANES area was to the Green Belt during its operational and boundary trees will provide undertaken by the Council in October lifespan and help to meet the UK’s legally Proposed panels area screening and break up views 2018, and considered factors such as binding net zero emissions targets. of the proposed site. grid access, environmental constraints, Proposed sub-station and human constraints such as a 50m buffer to housing. In this study, BANES Existing Public Rights of Way concluded that solar development STANTON PRIOR must be permitted in the greenbelt, if New native planting HUNSTRETE climate targets are to be met, given the historic and environmental constraints Retained and enhanced FARMBOROUGH MARKSBURY in place within BANES. As such, the hedgerows/vegetation areas identified as suitable for ground- CHELWOOD mounted solar are shown below. The location of the Marksbury Plain Existing woodland (Church Farm) site is indicated in red and falls within the area considered to Protective fencing PROPOSED LOCATION.