CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a solar farm on farmland in Barkham has been approved by the planning committee last night, the council has revealed.

The plan to build more than 67,300 solar panels on farmland to the north and south of Barkham ride was approved in a Wokingham Borough Council meeting last night, September 8.

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This is in the hope that the panels will generate enough renewable energy to power thousands of local houses as well as reducing carbon emissions in the area.

The approved proposals also include the planting of nearly 11,000 new trees on the site, wider landscaping to improve biodiversity, and the creation of a new Greenway to better link Arborfield, Barkham and Finchampstead to the existing network of public rights of way.

Despite this, not everyone has been happy with the plans so far. Both Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors criticised the original plans on April 8, questioning the effectiveness of the panels in terms of cutting carbon emissions.

Andrew Lake, current tenant cattle farmer for the site, will not be able to continue farming cows on the site. He is in the process of searching for new farmland to use, as he will not be able to use the farmland unless he converts to sheep farming.

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Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said: “This solar farm is a major part of our plans to help tackle the climate emergency and we’ve put a lot of time and thought into getting it right.

“The panels will generate around 29.63MWp per year, which is a massive amount and roughly the same as offsetting the carbon footprint from all our council properties combined.

“I am also pleased that we’ll be exploring the option of allowing continued grazing on the site. If that is practical for all concerned, it would be a great outcome."

The council is now looking to procure a contractor to install the panels. Work is not expected to start before late spring or early summer next year.

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Cllr Murray added: “We know residents have been concerned about the loss of farmland and whether this development would change the status of the land to brownfield after its use.

"I’d like to reassure them that this is not the case and, under current planning law, at the end of the 25-year planning process it immediately reverts to its current use. Any changes to this would require completely new planning applications closer to the time.

“We requested 25 years as we believe it’s the right time scale for this use. We hope technology for solar panels will continue to evolve over the coming years and we simply don’t know what the requirements or priorities will be this far ahead.

"It also means the panels will be in place long enough to ensure the project funds itself by selling electricity generated on site.”

For more information, visit https://news.wokingham.gov.uk/news/barkham-solar-farm-approved-by-planning-committee/.