Green Light For Hampshire Solar Park
Proposals put forward by Welborne Solar Limited for a new circa 37 megawatt solar park on land within the Southwick Estate, between Winchester and Portsmouth, have been given the green light by Winchester City Council (WCC).
A resolution to grant permission for the plans, put forward by Welborne Solar Limited "“ a partnership between Mark Thistlethwayte, owner of Southwick Estate, and Hampshire-based solar park specialists, Hive Energy "“ was given by WCC at its last Planning Development Control Committee meeting. Welborne Solar Limited hope to build the park "“ one of the largest solar parks currently planned in the UK "“ in the summer.
Mark Thistlethwayte of the Southwick Estate and director of Welborne Solar Limited commented, "As part of our strategy to keep Southwick relevant in the twenty first century, we continue to try to embrace the best of new technologies within our stewardship of the Estate. In response to heightened demands for renewable energy, and in light of proposals for additional homes in the locality, it seemed a responsible and appropriate decision to move these plans forward in conjunction with our colleagues at Hive Energy."
Hive CEO, Giles Redpath added, "We are committed to creating one of the UK's largest solar parks, which will be almost invisible from public areas, will support local ecology, will increase biodiversity and will deliver much needed green electricity into the Portsmouth area for the next 25 years. We now look forward to progressing the scheme."
With the planning process now successfully negotiated, subject to the necessary conditions being satisfied, attention will shortly turn towards the scheme's construction. A contractor to deliver the solar park is required and invitations to tender for the project are now being welcomed by Welborne Solar. The solar park is targeted to be operational by the summer.
