85-acre solar farm planning application submitted

MORE details have been given of a proposed 85-acre solar farm on land near Oswaldtwistle that would take 10 months to build.

- BY BILL JACOBS LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

They are included in the planning application submitted to Hyndburn Council by Bluestone Renewable V (ABEI Energy Ltd) for Ramsclough Farm off Haslingden Old Road 1.4miles from the township.

It is for the installation of a solar farm and associated infrastructure including ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels.

The proposed development would have an electricity production capacity of approximately 26.4 megawatts of alternating current of electricity using a secured grid connection from Grane Road substation which would be able to power 7,500 homes in Hyndburn.

The scheme would be made up of host of photovoltaic (PV) panel arrays; 24 inverter cabins and transformers; a switching station; a meteorological station; a distribution network operator (DNO) metering point; storage containers; internal access tracks; new and improved site accesses; security measures including CCTV; landscaping; and biodiversity enhancement measures.

A supporting statement reveals that changes have been made to the plan following an environmental impact assessment and local consultations last year.

They include:

• THE relocation of the inverters further away from the nearest residents;