Project status

  • Holding information
  • Active information
  • Closed for comments
  • Planning submitted
  • Planning decision
  • In construction

Welcome to
Grasslands Solar Farm

Low Carbon will be building a new solar farm, to be known as Grasslands Solar Farm, located on land to the north of Canewdon Road / Lark Hill Road, South Fambridge. The project will generate approximately 49.9 megawatts (MW), producing enough clean renewable energy to cover the annual electrical consumption of approximately 16,500 homes each year.

Contact us:

Email: i nfo@grasslandssolarfarm.co.uk

Call our free information line: 0800 470 2960

  • Project Status

    Planning decision

  • Site address

    Canewdon Road / Lark Hill Road South Fambridge, Essex.

Grasslands Solar Farm

Low Carbon is bringing forward a new renewable energy project along with the infrastructure needed to export the electricity it generates to the local network operator, UKPN (Eastern).

Grasslands Solar Farm will be located on land to the north of Canewdon Road / Lark Hill Road, South Fambridge, between the Parishes of Ashingdon and Canewdon. The site will generate approximately 49.9 megawatts (MW), producing enough clean renewable energy to cover the annual electrical consumption of approximately 16,500 homes each year.

Grasslands Solar Farm is proposed for a period of 40 years, after which the modules would be decommissioned and removed from the land and as many items will be recycled or re-purposed as possible.

We want to ensure the community around this proposal is informed and fully understands the plans for the project. We encourage feedback and suggestions to help influence the design. Our project website provides a simple and transparent way for the community to provide feedback.

Contact us:

Email: i nfo@grasslandssolarfarm.co.uk

Call our free information line: 0800 470 2960

Timeline

  1. September 2021

    EIA Screening

    Completed 2021-11-01
  2. September 2022

    Community Consultation

    Completed 2022-09-27
  3. Spring 2023

    Potential planning application submission to Rochford District Council

    Completed 2023-05-02
  4. Winter 2022/23

    District Council will consider and determine the application

    Completed 2023-11-23
  1. 2024 - 2025

    Pre-construction Activities

  2. 2025

    Commencement of Construction

Additional Information

Planning refernce was given by Rochford District Council on 11th January 2024, under reference 23/00407/FUL.

  1. Completed
    2021-11-01
  2. Completed
    2022-09-27
  3. Completed
    2023-05-02
  4. Completed
    2023-11-23

Benefits

Across our UK-wide portfolio of renewable energy projects, we have championed biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future.

Across all our solar parks we work with landowners and developers to implement comprehensive land and biodiversity management programmes. Each aligns with the conditions and circumstances unique to its site. Yet while we are pledged to protecting existing flora and fauna, most parks benefit still more from the introduction of extensive new planting and husbandry measures.

As sites mature, ongoing development will realise an increasing diversity of habitats and species: from meadows, hedgerows, wildflowers and woodland to sheep, bees, birds, bats, reptiles and invertebrates.

  • Biodiversity

  • Sheep

  • Beehives

  • Public Rights of Way (PRoW)

  • Planting

FAQs

Here is a selection of questions that have been asked relating to solar farm installations/builds.

Why here?

Low Carbon has carefully identified this site as part of a detailed feasibility process to deliver a large-scale clean energy scheme. Many factors are considered by our specialists when evaluating appropriate sites for development. These include considering the available grid locally as well as various planning and environmental constraints.

Solar offers a low cost, safe and low carbon way of delivering clean power to meet this target as well as reduce the levels of carbon dioxide that are being emitted into the atmosphere by replacing electricity generation from fossil fuels.

Will the solar farm cause any glint and glare?

Solar panels are designed to absorb light and not to reflect it. They pose little risk of glint or glare. Testament to this fact is the installation of solar panels at Gatwick Airport, alongside major roads and beside sports car raceways such as the ‘Top Gear’ test track.

Are there any health risks associated with being in close proximity to solar panels and energy storage facilities?

Solar panel arrays do emit electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in the same extremely low frequency ranges as electrical appliances and wiring found in most houses and buildings.

The average daily background exposure to magnetic fields is estimated to be around one mG (milligauss – the unit used to measure magnetic field strength), but can vary considerably depending on a person’s exposure to EMF from household electrical devices and wiring.

The lowest exposure level that has been potentially associated with a health effect is three mG. Measurements at three commercial PV arrays in Massachusetts demonstrated that their contributions to off-site EMF exposures were low (less than 0.5 mG at the site boundary), which is consistent with the drop off of EMF strength based on distance from the source (2015, Clean Energy Results).

Will Grasslands Solar Farm use land that could be used from growing crops for food production?

There is always a balance to be found when new development comes forward, with many factors and impacts to consider. Due to its proposed location, Grasslands Solar Farm will potentially utilise land that could be used for agricultural production. However, the land take involved is minimal in the context of food production across Rochford and allows clean energy to be generated at greater scale and efficiency than rooftop alternatives.

Where will the solar farm be visible from?

Part of the planning process, a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will be undertaken and explained in accordance with a methodology compliant with Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment Guidelines. Throughout the consultation process we will welcome feedback on the viewpoints and any mitigation including landscaping and the positioning of panels.

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