Plans for massive solar farm
A solar farm of more than 50,000 panels could be created near Stirling under plans submitted to council planners this week.
Energy company Green Energy International (GEINT) first earmarked Patrickston Farm off the A811 near Gargunnock in 2018.
However, this week they lodged a formal application for the 15MW, 64-acre largescale renewable energy project.
They say overall investigations have found it would have a neutral impact on residential amenity and the immediate area and “offers considerable benefit to the wider environment”.
The solar farm would operate on the site for a period of 35 years and would be fully reversible at the end of its lifespan.
In documents submitted with the proposal, GEINT said: “Much of the impacts associated with the residential amenity relate to the construction phase of development. Working hours on the site during the construction phase would be limited to between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday, with no works on a Sunday.
“A full construction traffic management plan suggests various mitigation measures to be taken during the construction phase in order to reduce the impact of construction traffic on the local area.
“The inverters and substation will generate very little noise and will be adequately located at distances from noise sensitive receptors to ensure no disturbance.
“A solar farm does not emit energy radiation and therefore cannot interfere with everyday equipment such as mobile phones, television reception, heart monitors, pace makers or hearing aids.
“A glint and glare assessment has shown that any significant impacts will have a duration of less than five minutes in any one day. No lighting will be required as part of the construction or operation of the development.
“Generally speaking the proposed site at Patrickston Farm is located away from the view of the general public. An assessment concludes that whilst significant effects will arise due to local change, the sensitive siting of the development and introduction of new mitigation planting will assist in merging the proposed development with the existing setting.”
Livestock will continue to graze on the site throughout the lifespan of the solar farm.
A Stirling Council planner previously said there was unlikely to be any significant impacts on westerly views from Stirling Castle, although a landscape and visual impact assessment would be needed to consider any potential impact on the Carse landscape or that from the Gargunnock Hills to the south side of the A811.
GEINT specialises in developing large-scale solar farms which allow rural businesses and landowners to diversify.
The number of potential jobs which could be created by the development and and any potential community benefits have yet to be disclosed.