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NEW SOLAR FARM AT WICKHAM HALL ESTATE,
BISHOP’S STORTFORD

ENDURANCE ENERGY IS BRINGING FORWARD A PLANNING APPLICATION FOR A SOLAR FARM
AT WICKHAM HALL ESTATE, BISHOP’S STORTFORD.


PROPOSALS

 

35MW of electricity generated, enough to power over 10,000 homes sustainably

 

Over 82% net increase in the biodiversity of the land, with wildflower
grasslands around the solar arrays

Close proximity to the National Grid connection point

Planting of over 10,000 new trees with a new woodland on the north-western edge
and over a kilometre of new hedgerows

New footpaths and defined circular walks, with information boards, around the
site for local residents to enjoy

 

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INCREASING THE PROPORTION OF POWER GENERATED THROUGH RENEWABLE ENERGY IS KEY TO
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE, WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT PLEDGING TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO
CARBON BY 2050.

The site falls under the jurisdiction of East Herts District Council who
declared a climate emergency in 2019.

Endurance Energy has undertaken a thorough programme of pre-application
community consultation with the local community. We have consulted with
residents neighbouring the development site and local stakeholders which has
been informed from the guidance set out in East Herts District Council’s
Statement of Community Involvement. 

Meetings were held with key stakeholders to further understand their thoughts on
the proposals and to have their questions answered by the project team. These
conversations were productive and useful, with their feedback contributing to
the overall design of the scheme.

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FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS AT BISHOP’S STORTFORD MARKET – JUNE 2022




CONSULTATION

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Almost 1,800 households and businesses received a newsletter inviting them to
the visit the consultation website and provide feedback. Residents were also
encouraged to sign up to an online presentation that displayed the proposals and
provided an opportunity for residents to raise their questions directly with the
project team. 

This dedicated project consultation website has enabled members of the local
community to submit feedback throughout the design process. 

After reviewing the feedback, over 63% of those who responded to the
consultation process support the proposals for a new solar farm on land at
Wickham Hall. 

This is an extremely high level of support for a planning application and shows
both the appetite for the scheme to come forward as well as the positive feeling
towards a renewable energy scheme of this kind.

This is backed up by a number of comments submitted by members of the public
which included “I think it is brilliant, well thought out and sympathetic to the
environment and local neighbours.” and “No doubt there will be some NIMBYs but
this is in our backyard and we would be proud that our area is contributing to
such an essential cause. Fully support. Love the footpath and information boards
as well as will be educated and interesting.”

In June 2022, members of the project team spoke to residents and visitors to
Bishop’s Stortford market about the proposals and the recent changes made to the
plans.

95% of those who completed a form at the market stall were supportive of the
plans for a solar farm at Wickham Hall.

Market Stall, June 2022

Market Stall, June 2022

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 * Click here if you would like further information and want to get in touch

 * Click here to fill out our feedback form

Endurance Energy has actively undertaken consultation with the local community
and will continue to update local residents, key community groups and
stakeholders on the progress of the application.

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WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR?

A planning application was submitted to East Herts District Council in late
2021.  

Following discussions with planning officers and reviewing feedback from
stakeholders, we have revised our application in East Hertfordshire by removing
the site from the green belt entirely, increasing the amount of hedgerow and
woodland screening, and increasing the level of biodiversity benefits.

The proposed solar farm will have a capacity of 35MW, generating enough
electricity to power over 10,000 homes on an annual basis.

In addition to this, all of the associated infrastructure has been moved into
East Herfordshire and a revised temporary construction access has been provided.

Additional hedge planting, tree planting and an improved native grassland and
wildflower planting mix have been proposed, in direct response to queries from
the local community. This has led to an increase in the Biodiversity Net Gain to
82%.

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WHY HERE?

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The site at Wickham Hall is highly suitable for a solar farm, being just 1
kilometre away from the National Grid’s Bishop’s Stortford sub-station, which
has the connection capacity to receive additional supplies of electricity. Such
close proximity between a sub-station in a built-up area and a viable site for
solar power generation is rarely available.

Due to the construction of the Little Hadham A120 bypass, a number of the fields
have been turned into irregular shapes which reduces farming efficiency.
However, these small fields can be used effectively to house solar panels.

Once the solar farm has reached its life span, it can be easily removed with the
land being returned to agricultural use.

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Location of the site and point of connection

 

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CLIMATE CHANGE

With the UK government’s recent announcement of a Green Industrial Revolution,
the UK has targets to increase the proportion of power generated through
renewable electricity to meet our ambitious climate targets and achieve carbon
net zero. As we continue to switch from fossil fuels for transport and heating,
it is imperative that we increase the generation of clean, zero carbon
electricity, in order to help deliver the significant reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions to which the UK has committed.

This solar farm will contribute towards a zero-carbon future for us all, and
importantly help East Herts District Council meet their 2030 carbon neutral
targets.

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BIODIVERSITY

The land for the proposed solar farm is currently used to produce arable crops.
Whilst the solar farm is operational, the soil will be rested. The land will be
used for renewable energy generation for 40 years, whilst providing new habitats
for wildlife on the site, before being returned to its original agricultural
use.

There will be an over 82% net increase in the biodiversity of the land. This is
through creating wildflower grasslands around the solar panels which will help
restore the agricultural land, new woodland and hedgerow planting, increasing
diversity of wildlife habitats on the site.

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Site plan

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

The solar farm is driven by a landscape led design which will take into account
existing field boundaries and natural features. Much of the land on the site
slopes towards the south, making it an ideal location for solar panels.

The panels will have minimal impact on the landscape at ground level as they are
around 3 metres in height with no foundations. The frames are simply driven 1.5
metres into the ground.

The low—profile nature of the solar farm and additional woodland will help
maintain the character of the local landscape including long distance views from
public rights of way.

Concerns over the impact of the proposals have been considered and the revised
scheme in East Herts does not have any infrastructure within the green belt.

Download the detailed site plan in PDF format

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WALKING ROUTES

There are several public rights of way through the Wickham Hall Estate and the
installation of the solar farm will create new footpaths and defined circular
walks with information boards showing the environmental benefits of solar farms.


FAQ’S

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WHAT IS A SOLAR FARM? +

Solar farms are the large-scale use of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to create
electricity that is green and clean. The solar farm at Wickham Hall will be made
up of solar panels supported on steel posts alongside inverters, transformers
and facilities for storage of generated electricity in batteries.



WHO IS ENDURANCE ENERGY? +

Endurance Energy is a subsidiary company of Endurance Estates. We are a
Cambridgeshire based property company who work on a number of residential,
commercial and renewable energy projects across the region.



WHY DO WE NEED SOLAR FARMS? +

The UK has committed to reduce the emissions associated with traditional forms
of energy generation . Solar power is one of a mix of technologies which will
allow the country to move away from fossil-fuelled energy generation towards a
cleaner and more sustainable future. Solar power will make a vital contribution
to the target for the UK to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.



WHY ARE YOU PLANNING THE SOLAR FARM HERE? +

We have undertaken rigorous assessments to ensure that the site is suitable for
solar farm development. The site is just 1 kilometre away from the Bishop’s
Stortford sub-station, which has the connection capacity available to receive
additional supplies of electricity. Such close proximity between a sub-station
in a built-up area and a viable site for solar power generation is rarely
available.



IS THIS SITE SUITABLE? +

Yes. The solar farm is driven by a landscape led design which will take into
account existing field boundaries and natural features, retaining and protecting
existing hedgerows and woodland. Much of the land on the site slopes slightly
towards the south, which is ideal for a solar farm.



IS THE SITE IN THE GREENBELT? +

No, the revised planning application covers land which is not in the green belt.



WHAT ABOUT THE LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND? +

Due to the construction of the Little Hadham A120 bypass, a number of the fields
have been turned into irregular shapes, making them less viable for arable
agriculture.

Whilst the solar farm is operational, the soil will be rested. We are simply
borrowing the land for 40 years and increasing the level of biodiversity on the
site before it can be returned to agricultural use in the future.



IF A SOLAR FARM IS GIVEN PLANNING PERMISSION, IS IT CLASSIFIED AS A BROWNFIELD
SITE WHERE NEW HOUSES CAN BE BUILT? +

No. The planning permission would clearly state that the site is for a solar
farm with a lifetime of 40 years. There will also be a planning condition which
ensures that it must be reinstated to its current state before it is returned to
agricultural use.



WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE IT? +

We have undertaken detailed landscape and visual impact assessments to
understand the visibility of the scheme from the surrounding area. We will be
retaining existing hedgerows and planting new green borders. As you can see from
the images below, as the new hedgerows and borders mature, the solar panels will
be screened from view.





An example of how solar farms can be hidden by hedgerows



HOW LONG WILL THE SOLAR FARM BE THERE FOR? +

The solar farm will be in operation for 40 years. Once the facility’s lifetime
comes to an end, the land will be returned to agricultural use.



HOW BIG ARE THE SOLAR PANELS? +

The panels are no more than 3 metres in height with no foundations. The frames
are simply driven 1.5 metres into the ground.



WILL THERE BE A LOSS IN THE BIODIVERSITY ON THE SITE? +

No, there will actually be an increase in the biodiversity of the land of over
82%.



WHAT ABOUT THE WILDLIFE ON THE SITE? +

A range of animal species including bats, great crested newts, badgers, deer,
and farmland birds make use of the surrounding landscape, which will be enhanced
by the extensive habitat creation and positive ecological management delivered
by the proposals. Ponds within the site and adjacent Bloodhound’s Wood will be
managed, in line with specialist advice, to increase their suitability for great
crested newts, which will also benefit a range of invertebrate and bird life.



WILL THE BATS BE AFFECTED? +

The solar farm is surrounded by mature woodlands, which are known to support
locally important bat roosts. The presence of these protected species has
underpinned the proposals, and great care has been taken to ensure bats can
continue to thrive alongside the solar arrays. Habitat connectivity for bats
will be enhanced through a combination of new native hedgerow and woodland
planting.



HAS THE PROJECT GOT PLANNING PERMISSION? +

Not yet. We have submitted a planning application for the site after consulting
the local community.

The planning application has been submitted to both East Herts and Uttlesford
District Councils where it will be determined by the planning committee.



WILL THE PROJECT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC? +

There will be some additional traffic to the site as the solar farm is being
constructed. This traffic will be managed through a Construction and Environment
Management Plan, agreed with Uttlesford District Council and East Herts District
Council.

Once built, the solar farm won’t require significant maintenance, so it is
likely there will be a reduction in traffic movements during the scheme’s
lifetime.



WILL THERE BE REFLECTION/GLARE OFF THE PANELS? +

A landscape and visual impact assessment has been carried out and submitted as
part of the planning application. This assesses the impact of the panels on the
surrounding area.

The PV panels are made of non-reflective material, either polycrystalline or
monocrystalline cells designed to absorb – not reflect - daylight and convert it
to electricity.

New planting around the perimeter of all field parcels with solar panels will
help to enclose the site visually and separate panels from the adjacent
landscape. Existing hedgerows will be retained.



HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY WILL IT PRODUCE? +

The solar scheme will generate sufficient renewable electricity to power over
10,000 homes on an annual basis.



IS THERE A RISK OF FLOODING ON SITE? +

The site is in an area of low flood risk. Solar panels sit on top of the soil
and have only very limited groundworks which means the site will not increase
the risk of flooding. A Flood Risk Assessment has been submitted as part of the
planning application.



WILL THE SITE BE FENCED? +

A 2m-high deer fence will be in place around the solar panels. This fence is
made from wooden posts and wire mesh, having minimal impact on distant views.
This type of fence is in keeping with a rural/agricultural setting.





An example of a deer fence at a solar farm



WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE 40-YEAR LIFESPAN? +

The temporary planning permission would clearly state that the site is for a
solar farm with a lifetime of 40 years. There will also be a planning condition
which ensures that it must be reinstated to its current state before it is
returned to agricultural use.

The lease between the landowner and the owner of the solar farm will detail how
funds will be managed during the course of the solar farm’s lifetime to ensure
that there is sufficient to dismantle the project and return the land to
agricultural condition at the end of the project’s life.



WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SOLAR PANELS AFTER 40 YEARS? +

Once a solar farm has reached the end of its term the nearly all the materials
can easily be repurposed or recycled. The panels are constructed almost entirely
from aluminium, glass and silicon. At the end of the project they can either be
re-used elsewhere or dismantled into components for recycling.

Detailed studies have shown that after solar farms are decommissioned (assuming
the panels will not be re-sited elsewhere), the panels are divided up into parts
based on material, and almost all of the glass and metal parts can then be
re-used, with 95% of glass and 100% of metal respectively being reused. In
addition, around 80% of the solar cell modules can be reused.

The silicon wafers are etched away and smelted into reusable slabs, and with
around 85% of this silicon repurposed for new solar panels.



WILL THERE BE ANY NOISE CREATED BY THE SOLAR FARM? +

Any noise generated at the solar farm is not from the panels but the electricity
being converted from Direct Current to Alternating Current for export to the
grid, within modules called inverters. Noise levels could be 60-65 decibels at
10m away from an inverter, but the noise level will decrease with distance from
the inverters. The noise is generated by the fans which cool the units down on
hot days. These are located within the site as opposed to being next to
footpaths so little to no noise will be heard outside the site boundary.



RATHER THAN SOLAR FARMS ON FIELDS, WHY CAN’T SOLAR PANELS BE INSTALLED ON
BUILDING ROOFTOPS AND BROWNFIELD LAND INSTEAD? +

The UK’s transition to net zero carbon requires a major shift in energy
generation away from fossil fuels. To achieve this, the UK requires significant
growth in zero carbon energy generation from multiple types of technology and
across a range of locations. The use of a small proportion of the UK’s land area
for solar, alongside rooftop and brownfield development, is required to deliver
the step-change in energy generation needed.



WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANNING APPLICATION MADE TO UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL? +

Unfortunately, this application was refused by Uttlesford’s Planning Committee
in April 2022. We are naturally disappointed with this outcome and are currently
reviewing all options before deciding on the next step.

However, our application with East Herts District Council remains live and the
solar farm can still be built without the Uttlesford part of the proposed site.




SOLAR ENERGY FACTS








RESOURCES

 

BEIS Electricity Generation Cost Report 2020 (PDF)

Practical Guide to realising the biodiversity potential of solar farms (PDF)

RenewableUK - Summary document polling survey - August 2022 (PDF)

Solar Energy UK - Ecological Monitoring Guidance - 2022 (PDF)

Solar Energy UK - Public attitudes to solar - January 2022 (PDF)

 
 

Solar Farms Briefing-Fact-Checker-March 2022 (PDF)

Solar Park Impacts on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (PDF)

Solar Stewardship Initiative - Code-of-conduct (PDF)

The Natural Capital Value of Solar (PDF)

 
 


HOW SOLAR WORKS

SOLAR PANEL ARE MADE OUT OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS, WHEN LIGHT HITS THESE CELLS AN
ELECTRIC
CURRENT IS CREATED.



The greater the intensity of light, the greater amount of electricity created.
Once the electricity is created, it passes through an inverter to convert into
alternating currents (AV) which is the form of electricity used by the National
Grid.

Solar uses daylight (not just direct sunlight) to generate electricity. The
electricity is generated as Direct Current (DC) which is converted to
Alternating Current (AC) before being exported to the grid to be utilised by
homes and businesses. Even when there are low levels of light, the solar farm
will still be able to generate electricity.


 FEEDBACK


NEXT STEPS:

Although the planning application has been submitted, we are still keen to hear
your views. Please complete the feedback form below with your views on our
proposals and any questions you may have.

 





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ABOUT ENDURANCE ENERGY

Endurance Energy is a sister company of Endurance Estates, an established
property company with offices in Cambridge, Birmingham and London.

Endurance work on a range of residential, commercial and renewable energy
projects across the region. Further information about Endurance Estates can be
found by visiting www.endurance-estates.co.uk

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CONTACT US

If you have any further questions regarding the site then, please do get in
touch using the following ways listed below:

Call us on 0800 148 8911

Email us at info@wickhamhallsolarfarm.co.uk

Write to us at: Freepost, MPC CONSULTATION (no stamp required)

For more info:      0800 148 8911    |       info@wickhamhallsolarfarm.co.uk    
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