Farmland targeted for solar site over 150 acres

A 30-MEGAWATT solar farm plan for almost 150 acres of Angus farmland has been drawn up.

The proposal is for land either side of the B9128 Forfar to Carnoustie road, just east of the village of Kingsmuir.

The Cotton of Lownie proposal is in its early stages.

Those behind the project have asked Angus Council whether the principle of the project is acceptable.

The scheme emerged through the submission of a screening request on behalf of Industria Resources by energy consultants Wardell Armstrong.

The solar farm site comprises three areas of land to the east and west of the B9128.

The total area covers 58.5 hectares – more than 140 acres.

A major part of the site lies to the east of Cotton of Lownie, and is bounded to the north by the road to Letham. Two smaller fields west of the B9128 also feature in the plan.

The applicants say a cable connection would be made to an existing substation almost three kilometres north west.

There are no core paths in the area to consider.

The consultants say they do not believe the project constitutes environmental impact assessment development.

“Importantly, this solar farm development on a greenfield site would not involve the ‘irreversible loss’ of agricultural land,” say Wardell Armstrong.

“Instead, the proposed development is temporary in nature, albeit long term, after which the solar farm would be decommissioned, with the fields reverting back to full agricultural use.”

Grazing would be continued on the land.

The council has been asked for a formal screening opinion based on information put forward.

There has been no public consultation on the plan so far, but the council has set a deadline of May 26 to consider the screening impact request.

If it progresses, the array would be one of the larger solar farms in Angus.