WALPOLE BANK SOLAR FARM

CLIENT
Enso Energy Limited

SECTORS
Energy

LOCATION
Norfolk

PLANNING AUTHORITY
Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk

HIGHWAY AUTHORITY
Norfolk County 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 40MW solar farm and battery storage facility on land near Walpole Marsh, Norfolk. Once operational, the solar farm will provide the equivalent annual electrical needs of approximately 8,800 family homes. The anticipated CO2 displacement is around 16,000 tonnes per annum, which represents an emission saving equivalent of a reduction in 5,100 cars on the road every year.

APPROACH

A planning application was submitted in October 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, and engaged with the local highway authority (Norfolk County Council) to agree appropriate access routes for the construction period. Agreeing an appropriate route was important due to the rural nature of the local roads, along with weight restrictions which prohibited some roads from being utilised.

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.

We also provided advice to the applicant on the legalities surrounding access to the site along an existing Byway.

OUTCOME

The planning application is yet to be determined by the Local Planning Authority. we will be engaging further with the Local Highway Authority to ensure the transport and access elements of the scheme are acceptable.