THE life of a solar installation at Piddlehinton is to be extended from 25 to 40 years.

The Bourne Farm site, of 10,500 solar panels, was approved in 2014. At the time the planning permission limited the life of the development to 25 years, after which it would have to be removed. The timescale has now been extended to 40 years by Dorset Council, in common with many other solar installations in the county.

The application for the extension was made in the name of Farm Power Apollo Ltd, and agreed, under delegated powers, by a planning officer. The site is immediately to the south west of Bourne Park, just off London Row.

The parish council made no comment on the application and there were no other objections.

The new condition lays down that within 40 years and six months of the cessation of electricity generation the solar pv panels, frames, foundations, inverter modules and all associated structures and fencing will have to be dismantled and removed from the site. The site will then have to be restored no later than three months after the end of power production.