PLANS have been agreed for a large solar farm on the outskirts of a farm and small business area near Billericay. The farm will create power for more than 4,000 homes.

Basildon Council has backed the proposals for the farm and a battery storage facility on land next to Barleylands, off Barleylands Road Billericay. 

The proposals also include the installation of underground cabling from the farm along A129, also known as London Road and Southend Road, Wickford, to the eastern borough boundary to link to Rayleigh Main Substation, Rawreth.

The latest plans come after refusals by Basildon and Rochford Council's of a similar proposal for the site. The planning documents say over 40 years the new solar farm would save approximately 130,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted into the environment – and this works out as about the equivalent to the emissions of circa 1,139 cars per year. 

A design and access statement says: "During the operational phase, as detailed within the Planning Statement, the solar farm would generate renewable energy for the equivalent of more than 4,250 average homes in England a year and compared to other forms of energy generation by non-renewable sources save 3,271 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of 1,139 cars. The proposal would make a valuable contribution to achieving energy targets, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and help tackle climate change.

"The proposed development will provide a reliable source of clean renewable energy which will be supplied to domestic and commercial consumers via the National Grid network.

"The battery storage facility would be utilised to reinforce the power generation of the solar farm.

"A significant increase in renewable energy generation is supported by national and local planning policy and relevant material considerations, such as the UK Government's 2050 'net zero' target, which will require a rapid and expanded deployment of low-carbon electricity generation, including solar farms, if climate change is to be tackled within our lifetimes."