Reading-based company Anesco has applied to build a 20-megawatt solar farm on farmland near Stoke Edith, emphasizing environmental benefits despite flood risk concerns. The proposed site’s features and mitigation measures are detailed in the application, with public comments open until July 25.
Anesco, a Reading-based company, has submitted a planning application for a 30-hectare, 20-megawatt solar farm on farmland north of Stoke Edith, adjacent to the Hereford-Ledbury railway line. The application, identified as 241510, includes plans for solar panels, transformer units, a control room, and grid connection equipment.
The proposed site is located near the river Frome, an area with a flood risk level of 2 (“medium”) or 3 (“highest”). Anesco argues that the envisioned environmental, economic, and social benefits of the project outweigh the flood risk, asserting that the development will not exacerbate flooding issues within or outside the site.
The site is described as well-screened and situated in an area already characterized by electrical infrastructure, such as the nearby larger Larport solar farm. Anesco has outlined measures to mitigate landscape impact, including enhanced hedgerows, tree, and scrub planting. The company has also confirmed that no new pylons will be introduced, and the project will not result in increased pollution, noise, or light.
The solar panels will be mounted above the ground up to a height of 2.8 meters, and the land will remain suitable for agricultural use with sheep grazing. The loss of farmland is described as temporary and reversible. During the construction phase, lorries will access the site from a minor adjacent road over a 48-50 week period.
Public comments on the application are open until July 25 on the Herefordshire Council webpage.
