The site - inclusive of main solar farm site and underground cable route connection – would approximately 119.7ha (296 acres) in size​
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Summary of Proposal Amendments to Scheme​
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Underground Cable Route: A 4.1km route to the Feckenham Substation, with an alternative 0.4km option.​
Solar Panel Adjustments: Fixed panel system (instead of trackers) on metal frameworks, raised for sheep grazing.​
Archaeological Considerations: Removal of equipment from sensitive areas, re-positioning compounds, and updating archaeological zones.​
Wildlife & Landscape: More skylark plots, additional hedgerows, native tree planting, and historic field boundary restoration.​
Battery Stations & Fire Safety: Updated designs, acoustic fences, fire safety measures (offsets, gaps, access improvements).​
Access & Public Rights of Way: Re-routed paths, extended access tracks, emergency access for fire services, and repositioned visitor parking and benches.​
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Full details can be found here: https://plan.wychavon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/W/23/00270/FUL

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• An underground cable route of approximately 4.1km, will run from the solar site into the National Grid Feckenham Substation associated with the Proposed Development. The Alternative Underground Cable Route option (subject of application 23/01308/FUL) is a 0.4km stretch diverting from the underground cable route as part of the Proposed Development at the northern part of Rockhill Lane, and turning eastward at the junction with Astwood Lane, and then running a further c.250m along Astwood Lane into the National Grid Feckenham Substation. Only one cable route option will be delivered; ​
• Photovoltaic (PV) panels based on a simple metal framework (‘table’) to form an ‘array’ which is pile driven into the ground, avoiding the need for substantive foundations. These arrays would operate on a fixed panel system (original submission was for a tracker panel system) to make efficient use of the sun’s energy and would have a maximum height of 3.0m above ground and raised a minimum of 0.8m above ground to allow sheep to easily graze. The space between each row will be a minimum of 4m and maximum of 10m; ​
• Removal of equipment from north-west corner of Site (subject of a number of archaeologically sensitive zones) and an archaeologically sensitive zone in the north- east (combined area of approximately 16 hectares (approximately 39.5 acres)); ​
• Rearrangement and additional suitable skylark plots (approximately 8.5 hectares (approximately 21 acres));  ​
• Archaeological Sensitive Zones updated to align with all of the known archaeology through geophysical survey and trial trenching work; ​
• Re-positioning the northern construction compound further west within the Application Site to a new location outside of the Archaeological Sensitive Zone, which is closer to the construction access from Earls Common Road;
• Reduction and re-positioning of southern construction compound within the Application Site so that it is immediately adjacent to the proposed substation; ​
• Re-positioning of permissive path north of Stock Green ditch and linking to the visitor car park to create a circular walking loop; ​
• Re-positioning of ponds/scrapes within the Blue corridor; ​
• Re-positioning of the visitor car parking to not encroach on archaeologically sensitive zones and reduce landscape and visual impacts; ​
• Repositioning and updated design of battery stations (13 no. battery stations inclusive of 1 no. Inverter, 4no.batteries and 4 DC-DC converters in each battery station) across the Application Site to reflect most up to date technology and address comments made by the Local Fire Service; ​
• Acoustic fences introduced at all battery stations; ​
• Re-alignment of some access tracks to accommodate changes to the layout of the equipment; ​
• Reinstatement of historic field boundaries recorded on the First Edition Ordnance Survey mapping of 1883-4;
• Hedgerow vegetation introduced along both sides of on-site PRoW routes to create ‘green lanes’ allowing a 10m wide corridor to accommodate the PRoW;​
• Additional hedgerow at the northern boundary of the Site to enhance existing vegetation and infill gaps; ​
• Additional native tree planting at the southern boundary of the Site to enhance existing vegetation and infill gaps; ​
• Some additional minor hedgerow removals to facilitate the access track re-alignment; ​
• A 3m offset has been incorporated around all battery stations and in between all BESS units to provide a safe working area for the fire service; ​
• A minimum of 10 metre gaps between all battery stations and nearby vegetation (hedgerow and trees) to reduce the risk of a fire spreading in the unlikely event one does occur; ​
• Hammerhead passing bays have been introduced to allow fire service vehicles to pass each other within the Application Site, which is of particular importance in the event of an emergency response being required on site. The passing bays will also allow fire service vehicles to carry out three point turns before / after each BESS station without the need to reverse long distances.; ​
• The access track has been extended to the eastern side of the Site to provide a secondary emergency access for the fire service from Quiet Lane; and ​
• Change of location of a public bench east of Roundhill Wood, to be set back further from the tree associated with high/medium bat roost potential and closer to the junction of the PRoW’s. ​
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