West Berkshire Council approves 42 solar panels in Bradfield

West Berkshire Council has approved the installation of 42 solar panels in Bradfield.

The district council approved an application submitted in September by Logie Fitzwilliams for the installation of 42 ground-based solar panels adjacent his residence at Fishers Copse House.

Approval was granted on Wednesday, December 7. The local highway authority and Bradfield Parish Council had no objections to this proposal, though the council raised some concern about the impact of solar panels within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But one condition of the approval is that no development, including site clearance and any other preparatory works, can commence until tree protection measures have been provided in accordance with a scheme for the protection of trees, which has first been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Other observations made by Bradfield Parish Council read: "When does domestic use of solar panels become commercial?

"The land these solar panels are being placed on has either agricultural or equestrian use."

The panels will be installed in two rows of 21. The full length of the array will be 37m. Each solar panel will measure one metre in height and 1.7 metres in width.