PLANS have been submitted for a massive solar farm the size of 114 football pitches near Bramley.

If approved, the development would power 17,000 homes and save 8,000 cars worth of carbon dioxide.

The site, known as Bramley Frith, is more than 81 hectares in size and spans six fields to the north of the village, and is located near to the current substation.

PV cells would plug directly into the National Grid, whilst battery storage technology would be able to store energy when demand is low and deploy it when it rises again.

Aardvark EM Limited, on behalf of applicants Bramley Solar Ltd, said in their covering letter that the solar farm would provide a "reliable source of urgently needed low carbon and renewable energy".

"The generating station would operate for a temporary time period, approximately 40 years. The Site, having been intensively farmed for many years, would benefit from a period of soil resting and has the potential to deliver significant biodiversity enhancements including via low intensity sheep grazing amongst the solar arrays. On decommissioning of the generating station the Site would continue in agricultural use.

"There is an urgent need reflected in national and local policies for reducing carbon emissions to limit the damaging impacts of climate change. Rapidly growing the use of renewable energy sources such as solar is strongly supported. Basingstoke and Dean[e] Borough Council has recognised the imperative nature of the radical changes required by declaring a Climate Emergency in July 2019."

The plans were met with approval from climate campaigner Martin Biermann, who described the technology as "excellent" and "the sort of thing which is urgently necessary".

The member of Basingstoke Transition Network said: "The location is absolutely one hundred per cent geographically right in connecting straight into a key location in the National Grid.

"This means less disruption in providing a feed to a suitable link and minimal energy loss in transmission from the generation site.

"There is also the benefit that some of the site will be screened by substantial existing mature woodland. That said, it will clearly require a good deal more work to satisfy the overall impact, but such installations are becoming friendlier by the day as the constructors allow for both agriculture and nature.

"Interestingly, the borough council's biodiversity team appear relaxed about dealing with this aspect and assuming that archaeological issues raised by officers are thoughtfully addressed and specific local visual details are handled sympathetically, this scheme looks like the sort of thing which is urgently necessary in combating climate change.

"Some residents of Bramley may also be relieved that it will restrict the otherwise serious potential for ever more housing in Bramley which has many highway constraints, but doubtless residents living closer than I will have some strong views in that direction."

The application requests advice about whether an environmental impact assessment is required for the development, which would follow in a full or outline planning application."

What do you think of the proposals? A development that will help the climate or an eyesore? Send us your views by writing a letter to the editor. Email newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk, including your name and the first line of your address.