A controversial bid to build a renewable energy park near a large Isle of Wight village has re-emerged with updated plans.
Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park Ltd said its revised proposal for a solar power station north west of Whiterails Road and south west of Wootton Bridge would deliver enough energy for 5,898 Isle of Wight homes, if given the go ahead.
Resubmitted plans include ground mounted solar panels, a battery energy storage system (BESS), substation building, ancillary infrastructure, means of access and associated landscaping.
In a letter to the Isle of Wight Council from December last year, the applicant said:
“We have taken the decision to make a minor refinement to the solar panel layout (removing solar panels within a small area of interaction with flood zone), and a subsequent realignment of the security fence, ditch and CCTVs.”
Removing a small area of panels from the proposed scheme slightly reduces the station’s solar capacity from around 20 megawatts, as detailed in a Planning Statement from October last year, to approximately 19.2 megawatts.
The Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park was first touted in September 2022 and has since split opinion with the council receiving 20 supporting public comments compared to 18 opposing the project.
An earlier version of the application was granted permission by the council in April last year but was later subject to a judicial review claim.
The claim, which raised a fire risk from the BESS, resulted in the permission being withdrawn.
The Environment Agency made no objection in its latest November submission but said flood mitigation measures must be implemented for solar panels positioned within flood zones to reduce the risk of flooding to the development and comply with national planning policy.
Wootton Bridge Parish Council withdrew a previous 2022 objection based on flooding, fire and environmental concerns after being ‘reassured’ by ‘proposed measures’ put in place which addressed its initial criticisms.
A public consultation on the applicant’s latest proposal is due to finish on February 21; a council decision date has not yet been made public.
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