LARKS GREEN SOLAR FARM

CLIENT
Enso Energy Limited

SECTORS
Energy

LOCATION
Itchington

PLANNING AUTHORITY
South Gloucestershire Council

HIGHWAY AUTHORITY
South Gloucestershire Council

PROJECT TEAM
Aardvark EM Limited

PROJECT MANAGER
Robert Roughan

PROJECT DIRECTOR
James Darrall

PROJECT

We were appointed by Enso Energy to support a planning application for a 49.9MW solar farm and battery storage facility on land near Itchington, South Gloucestershire. Once operational, the solar farm will provide the equivalent annual electrical needs of approximately 17,000 family homes. The anticipated CO2 displacement is around 23,000 tonnes per annum.

APPROACH

A planning application was submitted in August 2020. To support the planning application, we produced a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP). This set out information on the forecast construction vehicle trip generation, and provided a strategy to minimise the effect of construction traffic on the local highway network.

As part of the CTMP, we prepared access drawings and swept path analysis to demonstrate the safe access could be achieved. The rural nature of the site means that it is particularly sensitive to construction vehicles. Therefore, it was important to engage with the local highway authority early to agree the most appropriate construction vehicle route.

In addition, we provided a Transport and Access EIA scoping note. This successfully scoped out the requirement for a full Transport and Access ES chapter.

OUTCOME

Planning permission was granted in January 2021. TPA are now assisting with the discharge of planning conditions, including a highway condition survey, so that construction can begin later in the year.