12/03/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

MORE farmland in Swansea is to make way for another solar farm to boost renewable energy production.

Up to 25,000 panels will be built at a farm off Rhydypandy Road, north of Morriston Hospital.

The nine-megawatt Wessex Solar Energy scheme was given the go-ahead by the council’s planning committee.

Councillors were told planning policies supported projects of this type in this area of Swansea.

The planning officers’ report said no potentially significant glint effects were predicted from the panels and that the scheme overall would have a low or negligible impact on the countryside.

Addressing the committee, planning officer Ian Davies said: “No significant harm has been identified.”

There were 13 letters of objection, a petition with 49 signatures, and also four letters of support.

One objector said they owned land on Rhydypandy Road and didn’t want additional noise, especially when their mares were foaling.

Councillors asked what would happen at the end of the solar farm’s 40-year lifespan and whether extra signs could be installed on roads near Morriston Hospital ahead of construction telling drivers that HGVs would be taking panels and equipment up to the farm.

A highways officer said only six HGV movements per day were expected during construction, but that additional signs on Rhydypandy Road and adjacent Pant Lasau Road could be looked into.

Wessex Solar Energy, which is based in Northumberland, operates another solar farm further north on Rhydypandy Road.

Meanwhile, the planning committee approved the construction of a solar farm on two sides of Kilvey Hill, St Thomas, in June.

The council itself is considering building a solar farm on land it owns, but no potential sites have been disclosed as yet.

But planning officers were not keen on a pre-application enquiry for a large solar farm off Clydach Road, Craig Cefn Parc, last year. They said the site in question was not deemed as suitable for a solar farm, and also noted substantial local opposition.

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