A major solar farm and battery storage development between Midsomer Norton and Paulton has been granted planning permission by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Planning application 24/03894/FUL was submitted by PACE (Pathfinder Clean Energy) Yeti Energy Limited.
The solar farm will be located near Water Lane, close to the junction of Clandown Road and Monger Lane.
It will cover around 15.6 hectares of agricultural land, equivalent to approximately 22 football pitches.
Despite being promoted as Paulton Solar, B&NES planning documents record the site as being within Midsomer Norton and the Midsomer Norton North ward.
The approved scheme includes a 9.2MW solar farm alongside a 49.5MW battery storage facility. The applicant says the solar element could generate enough electricity for around 3,210 homes each year, cutting around 2,320 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
The land will also continue to have an agricultural use, with sheep able to graze around the solar panels.
PACE says several potential sites in the area were considered, with this location selected because it was assessed as having relatively few environmental constraints, including ecological and heritage impacts.
PACE says that once the solar farm is operational, it would generate very little traffic, while construction traffic would be managed to minimise disruption to local roads and residents.
The construction period is estimated to be eight to nine months, but PACE has not yet stated when construction will start.
Once operational, PACE says it would offer educational support, which could include school and college talks and site tours.
Permission for the solar farm is for 45 years, after which the equipment must be removed and the land restored, unless a further planning application is submitted and approved.
Local opinion was divided during the planning process. Midsomer Norton Town Council objected to the application, raising concerns including noise and visual impact, local planning policy, neighbouring properties, battery fire risks and construction activity.
Paulton Parish Council supported the scheme in principle, while raising concerns about construction access, landscape impact and how the proposed community benefit money would be divided between the two parishes.
At B&NES level, Midsomer Norton North ward Councillor Shaun Hughes opposed the development, highlighting the use of good-quality agricultural land, access along a single-track lane, visual impact and concerns about fires at similar battery storage sites.
However, adjacent ward Councillors Liz Hardman and Grant Johnson supported the scheme. Cllr Hardman spoke to the B&NES Planning Committee on behalf of herself, Cllr Johnson and Paulton Parish Council, arguing that the advantages of the development outweighed the disadvantages.
The application was initially deferred for a site visit before returning to the B&NES Planning Committee, where it was approved by seven votes to three.
The applicant has also proposed a voluntary Community Benefit Fund of £1,380 a year, equivalent to £62,100 over the 45-year life of the development.
A Community Benefit Fund is a voluntary payment made by a developer to support local community projects, organisations or facilities affected by a development.
PACE has not yet confirmed who would receive or administer the fund, who would decide which projects receive money, or how it would be divided between Midsomer Norton and Paulton. The company says it intends to work with the local community to agree how the fund should operate.
More information about the project can be found at:
The full B&NES planning application, decision and supporting documents can be viewed at:
https://app.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=24%2F03894%2FFUL
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