Solar Power Project -- M4 mile marker 70.1, Reading, Berkshire, UK
N 51° 25.239 W 001° 00.747
30U E 638194 N 5698478
A large solar farm outside of Reading, a landmark along the M4 near Reading
Waymark Code: WMTAJK
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/23/2016
Views: 1
This large solar farm will generate 1.6MW of clean, renewable solar power for the community, but, since it went onto productive farmland instead of a polluted brownfield site, was somewhat controversial.
From the Reading Chronicle:
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"Largest solar farm in Berkshire given the green light to be built in Grazeley Green
BERKSHIRE’S largest solar farm - the size of five football pitches - has been given the green light.
The four-hectare development will generate 1.6 megawatts of electricity from 6,552 solar panels at farmland north of Goring Lane in Grazeley Green after plans were approved by West Berkshire Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee on Wednesday, March 12.
The application - submitted by farmer Andrew Wickens and supported by Reading-based energy efficiency firm Anesco - is the biggest ever planning application put forward in the parish.
The solar farm will be in operation for 25 years and developers hope to set up an access route to AWE Burghfield.
But Wokefield Parish Council chairman Richard Thorne said: “Precedent in using farmland rather than a brownfield site is the single biggest factor in our objection.
“Residents will lose their amenities. German company Vogt applied for over 50 acres of land last year so we’re worried this will open the floodgates.”
Cllr Alan Law, who sits on the planning committee, added: “I hate these things with a passion. It’s an abomination. They have ruined the countryside and the environment.
“There is no economic benefit to the community and I don’t know what the social benefit is.”
But proposals were approved by nine councillors, with Cllr Law voting against and Cllr Tim Metcalfe abstaining.
Anesco chief executive officer Adrian Pike said: “This project will enable us to create even more jobs, as well as providing a guaranteed income for the farm for 25 years.”"