PROJECT DETAILS

WHAT WAS INVOLVED

Following the consent of planning in June 2022, Enviromena constructed a 24.2MWp solar farm in Bridgwater, Somerset. It became the first ever solar farm to have its energisation significantly brought forward to March 2024 under the Technical Limits programme, rolled out by National Grid and DNOs.

The project, situated directly adjacent to the M5, was identified for solar development by Enviromena’s development team in early 2021 and Enviromena’s expert land acquisition team agreed long-term lease terms with the landowner. An application for grid capacity was submitted to the DNO, National Grid Energy Distribution (formerly WPD).

Enviromena worked closely with senior members of National Grid Electricity Distribution and the ESO to help facilitate and enable connections to be accelerated and Horsey Levels has helped pave the way for future accelerated projects to be connected ahead of schedule.

PLANNING APPROVAL

After securing capacity with the DNO, detailed attention was paid to the planning aspects of the development site where a previous application for planning was turned down by the local authority five years previously. Key focus was placed on mitigating landscape impacts of the site which caused the previous developer to fail in their attempts to secure planning.

WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY

Engagement with the local community took place virtually via video conference due to restrictions imposed during the COVID pandemic and full support was obtained by the local parish council who outlined their full support for renewable development at the site. In parallel, a full planning application was submitted to Sedgmoor District Council (now Somerset Council) in December 2021.

The scheme obtained full support from all parties consulted on the scheme. Notably, Enviromena’s development team held engagement with National Highways to ensure that suitable screening was provided as part of the scheme to reduce glint and glare effects on users of the M5 motorway. Furthermore, a District Level License was put in place with Natural England due to positive traces of Great Crested Newts discovered within the onsite pond.
With no objections to the project, the planning officer at Sedgmoor District Council granted planning to the scheme in June 2022 by means of delegated power.

Chairman of Somerset Council, Councillor Mike Best said “Our Council Plan sets out our commitment to a greener more sustainable Somerset, and as we continue to work towards net zero, we welcome clean energy solutions that benefit our communities and the environment. The Horsey Levels project near Bridgwater will make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.”

CONSTRUCTION

Construction commenced in late-summer 2023 and the project completed in the winter of 2023/24. Land rights to connect the scheme utilising third party land for the cable route to the point of connection were fully secured.

PROJECT COMPLETED IN MARCH 2024

Horsey Levels completed, was connected to the grid and began exporting reliable green energy in March 2024 significantly ahead of its planned connection schedule.

MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE

Enviromena will continue to manage the site under a long-term O&M contract including full performance monitoring, security monitoring, preventive / reactive maintenance and landscape management.

PROJECT TIMELINE

*0.19338 kg per kWh (GOV.UK – 2022)

**Equivalent number of homes powered