Key considerations

Visual impact

  • The site is relatively flat with existing mature hedges and trees reducing visibility from the A505 Baldock Road / Royston Road heading towards Litlington.

  •  The solar farm will be screened and will be difficult to see from passing vehicle traffic, where the project would be to one side of drivers’ views.  The EV charging station will be sign-posted and partially visible from the A505 like any other road service provision.

Highways

  • The site will be accessed via Royston Road just off the A505 Baldock Road. 

  • Vehicles exiting via Royston Road is considered a safe option as they will use the established and existing route on to the A505, eliminating the need to create another point of access on the A505.

  • Vehicles exiting the site will resume their journey along the A505 towards the McDonalds roundabout.

Railway crossing

  • As the EV charging station is located south of the railway line, there will be no need for cars to use the crossing, except for those that would otherwise have travelled towards Litlington.

Biodiversity

  • The proposal to plant species-rich grassland with wildflower margins will create new homes for nature and give a much-needed boost to help Britain’s beleaguered bees. The supplementation of existing vegetation and hedgerows will also see native planting delivered as part of the proposal and increase biodiversity across the site.

  •  The team is also exploring further measures to allow local wildlife to thrive, including new bird and bat boxes and reptile hibernacula.

Farming

  • A continuation of sheep-grazing within the area of the solar panels.

  • The ability to improve soil conditions as fields will be left fallow or for low-density grazing for 40 years.

Decommissioning

At the end of its expected 40-year life, the site would be fully decommissioned, and this will incorporate all elements; solar farm, charging infrastructure, battery storage facilities and associated infrastructure such as the seating area etc.

The detailed decommissioning arrangements would be expected to be included in the list of planning conditions associated with any future planning permission.

Nearer the time of decommissioning, a decision would be made as to how much of the underground infrastructure should be taken away, given that the environmental disturbance may be significant if it is to be removed after 40 years.

That said, the project is completely reversible, and all aspects could be fully removed if that is the preferred option at the time. After decommissioning, farming could continue, with soil quality having been improved.