A large-scale solar farm of more than 50,000 panels will be created near Stirling after plans were approved.
Energy company Green Energy International (GEINT) first earmarked on land 800 metres southwest of Patrickston Farm off the A811 near Gargunnock in 2018.
Now Stirling Council officials have conditionally granted the company’s planning application for the 15MW, 64-acre renewable energy project.
The firm had said that overall investigations had found it would have a neutral impact on houses and the immediate area and “offers considerable benefit to the wider environment”.
The solar farm, which will take 10-12 weeks to construct, will operate on the site for 35 years and will be fully reversible at the end of its lifespan. Livestock will continue to graze on the site throughout that time.
GEINT specialises in developing large-scale solar farms which allow rural businesses and landowners to diversify.
The number of potential jobs and any community benefits have yet to be disclosed.
No objections had been submitted to the application, which includes ground mounted fixed solar panels, a substation building, invertor stations, access tracks, perimeter deer fences and pole mounted CCTV cameras.
The panels are typically 0.8m off the ground, with a maximum height of approximately 2.6 metres. The panels will face south and will be angled at 23 degrees. Areas underneath used for livestock grazing.
In their decision, council planners said: “Whilst resulting in substantial magnitude of change on this existing landscape resource.....the development will fit with the pattern and scale of the wider landscape.
“The solar farm will cause no glare effects on the surrounding roads and therefore does not impact traffic or road safety. “Where there is a moderate impact (two properties) this lasts less than five minutes.”
Planners said there would be no adverse effect on flora and fauna around the site and no flood risk.
Vehicle access to the site will be via the existing access at Patrickston Farm, directly off the A811.
“The increased movements to and from the A811, resulting from this development will be confined to the construction period, with minimal trips thereafter,” said the planners.
“In the event of the site becoming redundant, a condition has been applied which addresses liability for restoration. Also, in the event of a continuous period of six months of the scheme failing to produce electricity, the application site shall be reinstated by the site owner in accordance with the agreed restoration scheme.
“Conditions have been applied which require proposals for new planting and hard landscaping to be submitted for approval before work starts on site.”
In documents submitted with the proposal, GEINT had said: “The inverters and substation will generate very little noise and will be adequately located at distances from noise sensitive receptors to ensure no disturbance.
“A solar farm does not emit energy radiation and therefore cannot interfere with everyday equipment such as mobile phones, television reception, heart monitors, pace makers or hearing aids.
“No lighting will be required as part of the construction or operation of the development.
“Generally speaking the proposed site at Patrickston Farm is located away from the view of the general public.”
