Project status

  • Holding information
  • Active information
  • Closed for comments
  • Planning submitted
  • Planning decision
  • In construction

Welcome to
Longlands Solar Farm

Low Carbon is proposing a new solar farm, to be known as Longlands Solar Farm, situated on the land at Hill Court, west of the hamlet of Hill. The project will generate approximately 49.9 megawatts (MW), producing enough clean renewable energy to cover the annual electrical consumption of approximately 16,500 homes each year.

  • Project Status

    Planning submitted

  • Site address

    Land at Hill Court, South Gloucestershire

Longlands Solar Farm

Low Carbon is bringing forward a new renewable energy project along with the infrastructure needed to export the electricity it generates to the local network operator.

Longlands Solar Farm, located on land at Hill Court, west of the hamlet of Hill, will generate approximately 49.9 megawatts (MW), producing enough clean renewable energy to cover the annual electrical consumption of approximately 16,500 homes each year.

Longlands Solar Farm is proposed for a period of 40 years, after which the modules would be decommissioned and removed from the land and as many items will be recycled or re-purposed as possible.

Timeline

  1. April 2021

    EIA Screening & Parish Consultation

    Completed 2021-04-27
  2. May to April 2021

    Community Consultation

    Completed 2021-04-19
  3. Autumn 2022

    Potential planning application submission to South Gloucestershire Council

    Completed 2022-09-08
  1. Winter 2022/2023

    South Gloucestershire Council will consider and determine the application

  2. Spring/Summer 2023

    Commencement of Construction (if planning permission is granted)

Additional Information

  • A wide range of environmental subjects will be taken into consideration including traffic impacts, landscape and visual impacts and ecology.
  • We have submitted a full planning application reference number: P22/05462/F. Please click here to view the application.
  1. Completed
    2021-04-27
  2. Completed
    2021-04-19
  3. Completed
    2022-09-08

Benefits

Across our UK-wide portfolio of renewable energy projects, we have championed biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future.

Across all our solar parks we work with landowners and developers to implement comprehensive land and biodiversity management programmes. Each aligns with the conditions and circumstances unique to its site. Yet while we are pledged to protecting existing flora and fauna, most parks benefit still more from the introduction of extensive new planting and husbandry measures.

As sites mature, ongoing development will realise an increasing diversity of habitats and species: from meadows, hedgerows, wildflowers and woodland to sheep, bees, birds, bats, reptiles and invertebrates.

  • Biodiversity

  • PROW

  • Beehives

  • Sheep

  • Planting

FAQs

Low Carbon is the developer of this project and we will use the information gathered at the end of the consultation period to advise on the development of the proposed solar farm.

Here is a selection of questions that have been asked relating to solar farm installations/builds.

Why here?

Low Carbon has carefully identified this site as part of a detailed feasibility process to deliver a large-scale clean energy scheme. Many factors are considered by our specialists when evaluating appropriate sites for development. These include considering the available grid locally as well as various planning and environmental constraints.

Solar offers a low cost, safe and low carbon way of delivering clean power to meet this target as well as reduce the levels of carbon dioxide that are being emitted into the atmosphere by replacing electricity generation from fossil fuels.

Are there any health risks associated with being in close proximity to solar panels?

Solar panel arrays do emit electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in the same extremely low frequency ranges as electrical appliances and wiring found in most houses and buildings.

The average daily background exposure to magnetic fields is estimated to be around one mG (milligauss – the unit used to measure magnetic field strength), but can vary considerably depending on a person’s exposure to EMF from household electrical devices and wiring.

The lowest exposure level that has been potentially associated with a health effect is three mG. Measurements at three commercial PV arrays in Massachusetts demonstrated that their contributions to off-site EMF exposures were low (less than 0.5 mG at the site boundary), which is consistent with the drop off of EMF strength based on distance from the source (2015, Clean Energy Results).

Will there be a visual impact from Longlands Solar Farm?

As part of our ongoing work to determine the design of the project, we are undertaking surveys to ensure the visual impact of the Solar Farm on the local landscape is minimised. This will include screening and the installation of other mitigation measures in the appropriate locations around the perimeter of the land available for the project.

Will Longlands Solar Farm use land that could be used from growing crops for food production?

There is always a balance to be found when new development comes forward, with many factors and impacts to consider. Due to its proposed location, Longlands Solar Farm will potentially utilise land that could be used for agricultural production. However, the land take involved is minimal in the context of food production across South Gloucester and allows clean energy to be generated at greater scale and efficiency than rooftop alternatives.

Will the solar farm cause any glint and glare?

Solar panels are designed to absorb light and not to reflect it. They pose little risk of glint or glare. Testament to this fact is the installation of solar panels at Gatwick Airport, alongside major roads and beside sports car raceways such as the ‘Top Gear’ test track.

Key project documents

In this section, you will find key information about the project which you able to download and view or print at home.

  • Consultation report

    Full consultation report for the project.

    Download

  • Design & Access Statement

    Download

  • Planning Statement

    Download

  • Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

    Download

  • Transport Statement

    Download

  • Indicative Site Layout

    A overview of the where the site will be built

    Download

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