PLANS for a solar farm which partly crosses into Dorset from South Somerset near South Perrott will soon be decided.

The 54 hectare site It is being proposed by Elgin Energy and could generate up to 32 megawatts – enough for around 10,000 homes.

The site is to the south and east of Pipplepen Farm, School Hill, bounded by Wood Lane and Pipplepen Lane with the Yeovil-Exeter rail line to the north of the site.

An online consultation was held during the lock-down with the parish clerks for both North and South Perrott parish councils being sent information about the scheme and a website set up.

Dorset Echo: Site location of proposed solar farm near South Perrott marked in redSite location of proposed solar farm near South Perrott marked in red

The company claim “a strong level of support for both the generation of renewable energy and contribution to addressing climate change,” as a result of their online questionnaire, however only five people responded and the website about the proposals only received 327 visits in total.

As a result of the consultation the company says that it amended its plans to move panels further away from a public right of way which runs through the middle of the site and has further developed a landscaping scheme which will help screen the area. The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is about a kilometre from the site.

If consent is given by Somerset and Dorset councils the site is expected to take between four and six months to develop and could be in operation for 30 years.

Dorset Echo: The Pipplepen solar site Picture: Elgin EnergyThe Pipplepen solar site Picture: Elgin Energy

An existing farm track, Pipplepen Lane to the west of the site would be upgraded for access with the site surrounded by a 2.4metre high mesh fence with CCTV cameras every 150 metres.

A report from the energy company’s planning agents claims: “The proposal would have very limited influence over the setting of the nearby villages. In any event, any landscape harm would be temporary and fully reversible. As the proposed tree and hedgerow planting matures to provide further screening and a reinforced field boundary structure for the solar farm, the levels of effect would generally reduce to negligible to moderate adverse in the long term.”

Comments on the Dorset aspects of the scheme can be made until September 27th on the Dorset Council website – planning reference 2021/00627