Chichester District Council permits plans for solar farm extension in Selsey

Chichester District Council has approved Mr Daniel Moloney of BNRG Langmead’s application for the ‘construction of a renewable energy project comprising solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and associated works.

The 28 hectacre land at Ferry Farm Solar Farm on Chichester Road in Selsey would see the installation of many different works including CCTV cameras, landscaping and temporary construction compounds and off site mitigation.

The permit comes after initial plans which were put in place in July.

The planning documents stated that the site would be, in effect, an extension of the two, adjacent, solar PV arrays, already installed between the B2145 Chichester Road and the Southern Water Sidlesham, Wastewater Treatment plant.

The design and access statement added: “It is a temporary use of the land and all parts of the installation are reversible.

“To ensure safe and optimum use site will be monitored remotely by a central computer, this means that the site would not be permanently manned but monitoring will ensure a smooth and safe operation.

“Lowkey but regular visits by maintenance personnel will be made using normal light vehicle.”

Access for vehicles delivering the construction components will be via the B2145 Chichester Road. It is proposed that there would be approximately 60 HGV visits (120 trips) over a four to six-month period of construction.

“At most there would be no more than ten HGV deliveries (20 trips) in a single day,” the plans stated. “This is less than the normal variation in daily traffic flows on the B2145.

“The proposal would be made secure by the construction of a 2.4 m high mesh fence [which] would be located at least 8m from the rife on the northern and western boundaries and from the bank tops of the central rife.

“This allows for essential maintenance of the ditch and bank in accordance with the environment agency guidelines on access to waterways.”

The use of PV panels to convert light energy from the sun directly into electricity is an established renewable energy technology which does not involve the use of fossil fuels or the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2).

The concept was developed to combat climate change.

Selsey Town Council in a written statement about the application said: “Selsey Town Council supports the proposal with adherence to the proposed biodiversity net gain to reduce the visual impact of the site.”