NFDC approves Walkford Moor Solar Farm plan by Infraland & Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy at the edge of New Milton and Walkford, north of Walkford Road

A NEW 69-acre solar farm will sit on greenbelt land at the edge of New Milton and Walkford for 40 years.

The Walkford Moor Solar Farm, which will produce enough energy to power 5,000 homes a year, was unanimously approved by NFDC planning chiefs at Wednesday’s meeting.

The site, north of Walkford Road, will have four banks of power stations, a sub station and storage container, an officer told councillors.

It will be enclosed by security fencing with runs for small mammals so they can safely cross the site. The officer also said the development would lead to an increase in biodiversity through the planting of new dividing hedgerows and other environmental mitigation measures.

The farm will be in place for 40 years before it is dismantled and the land is returned to its previous state within six months.

Representing the applicant Infraland & Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy, Nick Barber said the solar farm would produce 15 megawatts of electricity each year. Access to the site will be from Wyndham Road or Walkford Lane.

But in a letter to the council, Christchurch Independent Cllr Andy Martin said the solar farm would represent “inappropriate development” and would be “harmful” to the character of the rural landscape.

He also raised concerns over maintenance vehicles having to use Wyndham Road, and possibly Glenville Road, to access the site.

Following the discovery of human archaeological remains on the site, Cllr Martin questioned how well this history would be preserved by developers.

Totton Conservative Cllr John Sleep questioned why the solar farm proposal was for 40 years, not 25 years as with other solar farms. He also asked how improvements could be made to the technology at the site without needing further planning permission.

Officers assured that solar farms have a “long lifespan” and that any significant changes at the site would likely require further planning applications in the future. Expanding on this, Mr Barber said planning applications for solar farms used to be around 25 years in part because that was how long solar panels were guaranteed.

Advances in solar capture technology now allow for longer periods of planning permission, Mr Barber said.

Responding to questions about safety from Independent Cllr Joe Reilly, Mr Barber said there were no known health risks associated with solar farms.

Answering concerns about fire safety, Mr Barber said the central sub station at the site was “low voltage” and at least 200 metres from the boundary.

Lib Dem Councillor Malcolm Wade said he fully supported the farm: “We have to accept the reality that, to deal with climate change, green electricity generation is the future.

“Schemes like this give us the clean energy we need for the survival of our species.”

He added: “It’s a good scheme and we should support it.”

Green Councillor Janet Richards said the land was the “right place” for a solar farm.

Lib Dem Cllr Phil Woods asked if the council was working towards meeting some new targets for renewable energy production, but officers said they were not aware of any.

NFDC’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of allowing the solar farm to be built within the next three years.