The Proposal

How does the solar farm work?

Solar panels are made of photovoltaic cells (which is why generating electricity with solar panels is also called solar PV) that convert the sun’s energy into electricity.

Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between layers of semi-conducting materials such as silicone. Each layer has different electronic properties that energise when hit by photons from sunlight, creating an electric field. This is known as the photoelectric effect, and this creates the electrical current.

Solar panels generate a Direct Current (DC) of electricity. This is then passed through an inverter to convert it into an Alternating Current (AC), and then to a transformer (sometimes a series of transformers) to upgrade the voltage so that the electricity generated can then be fed into the National Grid.

What does the project consist of?

Flaxlands Solar Farm has an expected generating capacity of c.49.9MW and 49MW BESS.

The solar farm will consist of:

87 hectare solar farm located north of Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.
49MW of BESS.
Fixed Tilt solar panels – meaning the solar panels always faces south and don’t move.
Solar panels will be set on lightweight frames in rows spaced approximately 3m apart, with a minimum ground clearance of 0.6m and a maximum panel height of 3m (although more likely to be 2.5m).
Inverters and transformers to convert the generated power from DC to AC to export the electricity to the grid.
An on-site substation and site facility, which includes a control room and components storage.
A security fence up to 2.4m high, CCTV cameras and a thermal imaging detection system located on 3m high poles, set at approximately 100m intervals on average around the site perimeter and pointed inwards. No permanent lighting is required for this proposal.
Internal access tracks to enable operation and maintenance.
Ecology mitigation and enhancement areas implemented to protect the ecology and habitats of the site, including the improvement of native grasslands and hedgerows.
The proposed re-alignment and improvement of Public Right of Way network.
New landscape planting to reduce visual impacts.

The plans show the proposed site location and layout, including the area the solar panels will cover, associated infrastructure, and the proposed ecological mitigation areas.

Has the impact on the environment been considered?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request was submitted to Wiltshire Council on the 11 July 2024 and we are still waiting for a formal response.

Environmental assessments are ongoing and include analysis detailing the existing site condition and potential impacts in relation to ecology, heritage and archaeology, landscape and visual, noise, traffic and transport, flood risk, glint and glare, arboriculture, and agricultural land classification. The outcome of these evaluations will be used to inform the design of the project and will be submitted with the planning application.

In designing the current site layout, the existing site ecology has been considered and buffer zones around important ecological features such as hedgerows, trees and watercourses have been incorporated into the design to minimise ecological impacts. Further ecological enhancements will be undertaken and could include the planting of native flowers and infilling and enhancing the existing hedgerows with native species. The site will, as a minimum, achieve the legislative target of 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG).

The plans show the environmental constraints of Flaxlands Solar Farm.

How will the Public Right of Way be impacted?

A number of Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) cross the Site and connect to the wider public right of way network. The proposal looks to re-align Public Right of Way LTRE26 and LTRE28 to go round the perimeter of the field network with the aim to make them more easily accessible as at present they are poorly marked and not well kept. As part of the proposal, the public right of way network within the red line boundary will be more easily identifiable and usable within the landscape through landscape and ecological mitigation measures.

All public right of ways will have a minimum 15m buffer zone and will likely be planting with native wildflowers to ensure increase amenity of the routes.

How will the proposal impact local traffic?

Access to the proposal will be along an existing farm access track off Flaxlands Lane. A traffic and transport assessment are being undertaken and will determine the access and egress route of construction traffic. It is likely that construction traffic will use the M4 and then exit onto the local road network at J16 before using the A3102 and entering the Site from Flaxlands Lane and the Site either via Brinkworth Road and the B4696 or via Greatfield through the village of Hook. The final construction route will be determined following the outcomes of the traffic and transport assessment, and the construction route and access will be consulted on with the local Highway Authority, and mitigation measures where necessary will be implemented to reduce impacts.

Construction of the solar farm is estimated to take up to 6 months, and operational traffic will likely consist of a single monthly maintenance visit to the Site. Traffic movements will be limited to hours outside of rush hour.

How will the solar panels be screened?

The proposal is sited in a location where visibility onto the site, and of the solar panels is extremely limited due to the existing hedgerows and woodlands and wherever feasible, existing trees and hedges will be maintained and where required, new screening vegetation such as infilling and enhances hedges will be planted. Further planting as recommended by the ecological and landscape assessments will be following and carried out on the site, and would be consulted on, and agreed with the local authority prior to their determination.

The landscape impacts to the existing public right of way network will be minimised as much as possible through enhancing the public right of way routes to make them more useable throughout the year, and by providing vegetation planting such as new hedges and native flower meadows.

How will the local community benefit?

We are looking at ways to help ensure the local community benefits from the development of the solar farm. This could include:

A Community Benefit Fund to support local projects and initiatives.
A Community Energy Co-operative, to enable locals to benefit from long-term savings from a local green source. This is a relatively new concept in the UK and relies on some regulatory changes to allow larger schemes such as this to work in this way.
Creating opportunities for local businesses in the supply chain.

We would like to hear ideas from the local community on what they would like to see delivered. Please share any ideas or suggestions with us via email at Contact@ampyrsolareurope.com.

How long will the project take to develop?

We are currently undertaking surveys and assessments which will inform our proposal, alongside the feedback from community consultation. Following this, we aim to submit a planning application to Wiltshire Council later this year.

Once the planning application is submitted, Wiltshire Council will carry out a statutory consultation, where you will be able to comment further on the proposal, directly to the council. At this point, we will also share an update with the local community on how the consultation feedback has influenced our proposal.

If the project is granted planning permission by Wiltshire Council, Flaxlands Solar Farm would take approximately 6 months to be constructed with an operational lifespan of up to 40 years.

How will the solar farm connect to the grid?

An export cable will run from the solar farm and connect into the existing overhead cable approximately 1.7km north of the site. The cable route is still to be finalised but is likely to exit the Site onto Flaxlands Lane and then follow Greatfield Road north before connecting the existing overhead cable line.