Dorset Council has announced plans to develop a 50MW solar PV facility on the Farms Estate site in Chickerell.
The council plans to build the power station on council-owned land, Higher South Buckland Farm, a site that Dorset Council says has already been identified as suitable for solar energy generation in its local plan options. The design of the solar site will preserve public rights of way and provide a net benefit to biodiversity.
According to the council, if it goes ahead, the project will be one of the largest renewable energy projects on council-owned land in the South West of England.
The Higher South Buckland Farm is managed under a Farms Estate Strategy, compiled by Dorset Councilwhich recognized that some farms are no longer best suited to traditional farming.
The planned location of the solar power plant has consistently produced low agricultural yields due to low soil quality, which the council believes limits the economic viability of traditional agriculture. Diversification would allow it to remain a productive asset for Dorset.
The plans are still at an early stage, but the council will now carry out detailed design work and public engagement before submitting a planning application.
The council will work with European onshore and offshore renewable energy developer Source Galileo to realize the plan. Source Galileo is also currently working on an offshore wind power plant on the coast near Dorset, in collaboration with Portland Port.
