Published: 18 Jan 2023, 15:18
Penpergym Solar Farm will join Renewable Connections’ 49.9MW solar farm in Kingston on Soar and 49.9MW solar farm near Quintrell Downs which both received approval this month. Image: Unsplash.
Plans submitted by Renewable Connections for a 32MW solar farm at Great House, Penpergwm, Abergavenny have received approval from Welsh Ministers.
The solar farm will be built on land approximately 4km southeast of Abergavenny.
Application for Penpergym Solar Farm was formally accepted by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales on 7 February 2022, followed by a hearing with the Inspectorate in August 2022 to produce the final report for the site.
Biodiversity measures proposed in the plan include new and reinforced hedgerows, bat and bird boxes, as well as creating bee banks, badger gates, dormice nests, reptile hibernacula alongside invertebrate hotels. A community orchard has also been proposed, alongside extensive wildflower meadows.
Existing footpaths will be improved as part of the plan and safeguarded routes for 40 years will be created.
“We are exceptionally pleased with this outcome, and very proud of our development team and the way they managed the iterative design process, ultimately, achieving the right decision. Penpergwm Solar Farm will significantly support the Welsh Government’s decarbonisation and climate resilience targets. This includes generating seventy percent of consumed electricity from renewable means by 2030,” said John Leith, development director at Renewable Connections.
“The solar farm will also operate in synergy with the existing agricultural business, enabling sheep grazing to continue within the proposed development area, whilst allowing the farming enterprise to remain financially viable. And as well as a wide range of biodiversity improvements the project also has a community benefit fund that will support local good causes and initiatives.”
Penpergym Solar Farm will be added to Renewable Connections’ growing solar portfolio, bringing the approved project portfolio for the company to over half a gigawatt.
Two Renewable Connection’s solar projects that have recently receive approval include the 49.9MW solar farm in Kingston on Soar and a 49.9MW solar farm near Quintrell Downs.