North Devon gives green light for 50MW PV plant

• Aura Power anticipates to start building of the Litchardon Cross project in Springtime 2022

Bristol-based Aura Power has actually obtained unanimous authorization from North Devon Council's planning committee for the nearly 50MW Litchardon Cross solar farm near Barnstaple in south-west England.

Aura Power expects building and construction of Litchardon Cross to begin at the earliest in Spring 2022 as well as will inform the neighborhood as its strategies development.

The firm stated that when constructed, the project is expected to create adequate electricity to power the matching of 12,700 typical homes a year and conserve an approximated 15,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The project site additionally includes a suite of eco-friendly as well as biodiversity improvements including areas of wildflower meadows, new tree belts and also hedgerows which will certainly deliver a net biodiversity gain of 26% for environment and 15% for hedges.

The low-grade land is currently only good for field as well as will remain in farming use, with lamb grazing continuing around as well as underneath the panels.

Aura Power UK development supervisor Chris Featonby stated: "We are very delighted that the Preparation Board with one voice elected to sustain our proposals which will help to tackle not just the environment emergency but additionally the Ecological Emergency, as well as assist North Devon to attain its Net No carbon targets.

" We want to thank the council officers, councillors and legal consultees for all the effort they take into considering our plans.

" We anticipate collaborating with the parish councils on making certain the area benefit fund from the solar farm provides lasting local benefits and also educational chances for close-by institutions.

" Farming is extremely vital in this part of the globe, and the solar farm will certainly also enable the two family members that have farmed this land for numerous generations to expand as well as secure their farming future."

Aura will certainly additionally be establishing an Area Benefit Fund of ₤ 350 per MW, index-linked, annually, for the life time of the solar farm.

This can amount to ₤ 17,500 a year for 35 years or over ₤ 612,000 in overall.

A total amount of ₤ 2,000 a year would certainly be set aside for instructional sessions with neighborhood colleges as well as site check outs to the solar farm, with the remainder being shared in between the regional host and also adjoining parishes and also made use of for social and environmental area projects.