PLANS for a 180-acre solar farm near Frome that could power more than 16,000 homes have been submitted.

Renewable energy investment firm Low Carbon wants to install the solar farm at Bluebell Wood, near Bradford Road, Rode.

It has submitted a planning application to operate the solar farm for 40 years, as well as battery storage facilities, on the greenfield site, currently agricultural land.

The site, which is split in two by the A361 connecting Rode and Trowbridge, would have a capacity of around 50MW, enough energy to power around 16,000 homes each year.

The area planned for the solar farm is split by the A361

“The solar panels would be laid out in rows running from east to west across the site,” the application said. “There would be a gap of approximately 3m to 4m between each row. The panels would be mounted on a frame, and to be installed using spiked foundations approximately 1.2m deep.

“The solar panels within the area identified as archaeologically sensitive ‘no dig’ zones by the Cultural Heritage Assessment and Geophysical Survey will be installed without foundations using concrete blocks (known as ‘concrete shoes’) which sit flush with the ground surface so that excavation is not required.”

An example of how the solar panels could look

The application said consultation with residents and Somerset Council through online, mail and in-person methods, had seen plans amended, including removing one section of panels.

“The applicant considered the points raised by consultees during the engagement process and subsequently made changes and additions to the proposed development, where necessary,” it went on.

“This included: the removal of the western triangular parcel from the site area and developable area to protect residential amenity and the village character of Rode; panel and fenceline pull backs from various boundaries for residential amenity and heritage asset protection; and additional planting in various parts of the site to enhance biodiversity and visual screening.”

Battery storage is also proposed for the site

Sheep would continue to graze on the site, around the panels, the application said, while the fields would be returned to their current state after the 40-year life of the solar farm.

For more details on the plans, and to comment, log on to www.somerset.gov.uk and search for application reference 2023/2183/FUL.