The final proposal
Creating habitats and boosting local ecology
The final proposal for Heydon Road Solar has been carefully designed to deliver a boost to local biodiversity.
Grupotec will plant new hedgerows and will reinforce existing hedgerows to increase connectivity within the local landscape for species such as bats, small mammals and amphibians.
Additionally, the final proposal has been designed to offer a foraging resource to a wide range of species by planting wildflower rich grassland, species rich hedgerows, trees and shrub planting.
These mixed habitats will provide a year-round foraging resource to species that feed on nectar and berries, as well as for predator species that will be attracted by the insects and small mammals using these habitats.
As well as creating new foraging areas for wildlife, Grupotec will also include bird nest boxes and bat roost boxes to offer places of refuge to these species.
In addition, the final proposal has been designed to protect nearby ponds with high water quality and rich botanical interests by including species diverse grassland buffer zones, which will help to preserve the water quality. The development also seeks to restore an ancient pond that has been lost to farming.
How the scheme has evolved
Since the public consultation, Grupotec has been working closely with the local planning authority, stakeholders and near neighbours to finalise the proposal, taking into account the concerns raised.
In response to feedback from the public consultation and several kitchen table meetings with site neighbours, as well as emails and phone calls they have:
Pulled back panels from near neighbours in various locations by up to 150 metres to reduce the visual impacts from these properties and respecting the listed building setting.
Increased the planting and installation of green buffers for those immediate neighbours and the listed building to limit the visual footprint.
Assured the access route for construction vehicles does not go along Ollands Lane or through Cawston in order to minimise disruption to site neighbours or the village and its residents
Listened to concerns around extended road works and assured our grid connection does not require significant road works, as the interconnecting cable crosses almost entirely private land, allowing for a direct link to the National Grid and will only cross under two roads and avoid any cables or roadworks through Cawston.
