A groundbreaking proposal for a solar farm stretching across 108 acres in Devon has sparked significant community interest and concerns. Exagen Development, a firm specializing in renewable energy projects, has submitted a planning application to the North Devon Council for the site located south of Buttercombe Lane in Braunton. This proposal will include not only solar panels but also ancillary structures such as a sub-station, cabling, CCTV, and fencing to enhance security. As the council weighs the planning application, local residents have until July 6 to voice their opinions.
According to a recent survey, public sentiment regarding the solar farm is mixed: 40% of respondents oppose the development, while only 13% are in favor, and the remaining 47% remain undecided. Key concerns from the community revolve around the project’s scale, its potential visual impact on the landscape, and its effects on local ecology and biodiversity. Responding to these concerns, the planning documents submitted by Exagen indicate that they have adjusted the project design, which includes creating a larger buffer zone adjacent to ancient woodlands and other sites of ecological importance. Furthermore, revisions have been made to the cable route to minimize the removal of hedgerows and enhance the landscape and biodiversity around the site.
The planned solar array has a capacity of 15 megawatts, which would be capable of powering approximately 8,600 homes each year while resulting in a reduction of about 4,275 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. A significant aspect of the proposal includes the site’s proximity to four special scientific interest locations (SSSI), prompting detailed environmental assessments. The applicant’s reports claim that the impact on these protected areas will be “negligible and not significant” due to limited habitat changes alongside the implementation of enhancement measures.
Furthermore, Historic England has provided its feedback on the project, indicating that it has successfully avoided any harm to the adjacent Grade II* listed Ash Barton farmhouse through strategic design measures such as buffer planting and the establishment of undeveloped zones. While the installation of permanent lighting is not planned, the site will feature CCTV mounted on poles for security purposes. Construction is anticipated to last around six months and will involve approximately 12 two-way HGV trips daily, excluding weekends and bank holidays. As the planning decision approaches, the discourse around the solar farm highlights the balance between advancing renewable energy initiatives and addressing community concerns.
