The site

The proposed development site is located on approximately 62 hectares of land predominately comprising the closed landfill site, its monitoring equipment and existing hedgerows and boundary treatments. The land is currently unused, and vegetation growth is maintained through intermittent sheep grazing. The site is bound by the River Stour to the east and south and the railway line to the west. The site connects to the previously consented solar farm to the north.

Following extensive investigations, the site has been found suitable to accommodate solar PV arrays. RBL Solar intend to capture this opportunity to generate renewable electricity on this underutilised site which is unsuitable for other development and represents a logical extension to the previously consented solar farm to the north whilst retaining valuable agricultural land nearby.

Project benefits

• Deliver a significant supply of clean, renewable energy, helping to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.
• Repurpose a closed landfill site avoiding the use of vital agricultural land, ensuring important farmland is preserved.
• Integrate with the previously consented solar farm, strengthening local renewable energy infrastructure and providing a reliable source of sustainable energy.
• The solar array will generate 81,000,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year, enough to supply 30,000 homes.
• Promote long-term environmental responsibility by using land unsuitable for other development while maintaining ongoing environmental monitoring commitments.
• A community benefit fund will be set up to provide funding for local community programmes and charities. RBL Solar welcome any ideas for where the money would be well spent.