Layer Solar Farm

Background:

Layer Solar Farm is a 97 hectare site of Grade 3 farmland at Layer-de-lay-Haye in Colchester, Essex.  The Colchester Borough Council had declared a target to be a carbon neutral district by 2030. The developer, Low Carbon, wanted to develop a solar photovoltaic farm that would operate for 40 years and provide clean, renewable energy for over 16,000 local homes.

Challenge:

As the site was farmland, the planning application required the scheme to demonstrate how habitats would be protected, to prevent an impact on the biodiversity and to minimise landscape and visual impacts. 

The planning application also needed to include the associated infrastructure such as inverters, substation compound, security cameras, fencing, access tracks and landscaping.

DWD services:

The solar planning team at DWD provided the expert planning advice and project management required to take the project from the pre-app and consultation stages through to the grant of planning permission. The team worked hard to put together a well-considered proposal to provide much needed renewable energy and a biodiversity net gain in addition to preserving and enhancing the setting of a Scheduled Monument which was designated by Historic England during the planning application stage.  

Benefits:

The Layer Solar Farm will generate enough renewable power to provide over 16,000 homes in Essex while achieving a biodiversity net gain.  The scheme will help to meet national and local objectives for reducing carbon emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.  It will save 11.210 tonnes of C2 each year and is the equivalent of 5,175 cars taken off the road.