Welcome to the information page for our proposed 50MW Titchfield Lane (Wickham) solar project.
This page includes details about our current plans for the site, and ways to share your feedback.
We chose this site after careful consideration, and a wide range of environmental assessments informed this decision. The project would facilitate the reduction of our client’s UK operations carbon footprint and offer future proofing for the site.
The location of the project can be viewed on what3words’ interactive map:
- Northern area ///coconuts.lizards.wide
- Eastern area ///height.vine.ripen
- Central area ///attends.rave.proofs
- Southern area ///bonus.vocal.incurring
Project key facts
- The solar project could have a capacity of up to 50MW (megawatts) and generate enough to power the equivalent of up to 17,726 homes.
- Estimates show a potential CO2 saving of around 15,702 tonnes every year, which is equivalent to driving 203,978,208 miles in a car.
- The project is fully reversible and after 40 years the rested land will benefit from increased biodiversity and an improved ecosystem.
- The soil will be enhanced as it will be far less intensively farmed during this time.
- As part of the planning process, Conrad Energy is required to demonstrate that there will be a biodiversity gain on site.
What happens next?
It’s important to us that the local community remains informed of our plans for the site and has the opportunity to learn more.
We will be holding a public consultation event on Wednesday 4 September 15:00-19:00. At this event you can talk to the project team, see our proposals in more detail, and give us your feedback.
Proposed design
Project timeline
Winter 2024
Planning submission
Summer 2025
Planning decision expected
Summer 2026
Target construction start date
Spring 2027
Energisation
40 years
Operation lifespan
FAQs
General
The transition to a clean energy system is necessary to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change to the environment, wildlife and humans. The UK’s climate change ambitions are amongst the highest in Europe and require us as a nation to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More renewable energy generation is needed to meet these targets. Titchfield Lane Solar Farm will offer an environmentally friendly, low cost and safe way of delivering clean power to the equivalent of more than 17,726 homes.
The solar farm can connect to the existing grid capacity to supply the local network and customers with clean power for local consumption, helping the Winchester City Council on its journey to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Conrad Energy will be submitting a full planning application for Titchfield Lane Solar Farm to Winchester City Council, which is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This solar project will aid the county in achieving its targets.
Titchfield Lane Solar Farm will connect at Botley Wood 400/132/33kV substation.
Solar power is now one of the most cost-effective sources of electricity generation in the UK. The Government has decided that subsidies should no longer play any role in solar development, which is good news for the consumer. This means that Titchfield Lane Solar Farm will not receive any government funding.
Solar farms not only preserve and protect what is there today, but also offer opportunities to enhance the space by allowing the land to rest without regular ploughing, fertilising and spraying with pesticides and herbicides.
It’s important to Conrad Energy that the area is improved for nature, and ecological enhancements are an integral part of the development plan.
At Titchfield Lane Solar Farm this may be done by a variety of the following, depending on specific site requirements:
- Ensuring a minimum separation distance of 2.5m between the panels to allow for biodiversity improvements, such as wildflower planting.
- Planting and maintaining new native hedgerow species such as hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn and field maple.
- Planting additional trees with species such as field maple, crab apple and wild cherry.
- Converting the entire site from arable to pasture, creating a wildflower meadow habitat where bees and pollinator species can thrive.
- This will benefit a number of species groups such as farmland birds, amphibians, woodland and woodland edge bat species, brown hare, badgers and small mammals.
- Conrad Energy respects local communities and designs projects sensitively, listening to local feedback. We would like to hear from the local community about their ideas for environmental enhancements.
As part of the scoping report, Conrad Energy will carry out an Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Survey on the site, including soil sampling.
Solar farms allow land to rest without regular ploughing, fertilising and spraying with pesticides and herbicides. As well as benefitting from the rest from chemicals, we are required to demonstrate as part of the planning process that there will be a biodiversity gain on the site. Conrad Energy encourages the grazing of sheep, as well the siting of bee boxes and bird boxes on its solar farms, meaning that the potential for dual use of the land for electricity development and agriculture will be guaranteed.
The entire Titchfield Lane Solar Farm site will be converted from arable to grassland and wildflower meadow habitat, offering a beneficial habitat for small mammals, farmland birds and woodland bats, as well as bees and pollinators.
About Conrad Energy
Conrad Energy is a leading UK energy company. We’re powering the move towards renewables through innovation and technology. We generate power to support the National Grid when renewables can’t meet demand and we buy, sell and manage energy for businesses nationally.
With a portfolio including gas, batteries, solar, wind and hydrogen, our 79 sites, operational or in construction, have a potential to generate 964MW of power making us one of the leading flexible energy providers in the country. Optimised and operated using our market-leading software, iON+, we’re at the forefront of shaping a more efficient energy sector that is both reliable and sustainable.
Conrad Energy has a very experienced solar development team with many years and megawatts of installed capacity.
Project overview and timeline
We expect to submit a planning application for the project in September 2024, following the decision of the EIA Screening application, which was submitted in October 2023. This confirmed we will not require an Environmental Impact Assessment in December 2023.
We have undertaken an assessment of solar irradiance, available grid connections and environmental sensitivities in the area which identified this site as highly suitable for solar development. The site is located in a former landfill with no high value agricultural land or constraints in terms of heritage, landscape or ecology.
This site benefits from an available grid connection within the southern section of the project, so it minimises disruption locally. This means that electricity generated by the solar farm can be supplied to the grid efficiently, using the existing infrastructure, without the need to install lengthy underground or overhead transmission lines and cables.
The total area of the application site is approximately 153 acres as viewed on the project layout plan. This includes areas for landscaping and biodiversity enhancements as well as the solar panels.
The solar farm will be fenced using deer fencing and wooden posts with a height of approximately 2.0m.
Solar farms do not typically generate pollution or significant noise outside of the temporary construction period. Any elements of the development which produce noise (e.g. transformers, substation, etc) will be located away from residential properties to prevent any impact on amenity.
Because more than 95% of the land remains as grass, rainwater runoff from the site will not increase and the solar arrays will not displace any floodwater. We will engage with both the local Flood and Drainage Authority and the Environment Agency throughout the planning process to aid in the design of the scheme and mitigation measures. A full Flood Risk Assessment has been commissioned and will form part of any planning application we submit.
Environmental considerations
Mitigation and screening will be built into our planning application. Following a landscape and visual survey and assessment, a planting plan will be produced. This will include new native hedgerow and tree planting to reinforce the existing green network and provide visual screening. We welcome feedback on this.
We are developing the solar farm with the aim of delivering a significant net gain in biodiversity, and to improve the soil quality in the long term. Our ecologist is in the process of setting out a detailed habitat and biodiversity improvement plan to improve both of these important elements.
Extensive ecological assessments of the site are being undertaken. In order to provide increased foraging opportunities for birds all year round, fruit-bearing native hedges and trees will be planted, and fallow strips will be added along field boundaries for winter foraging. Sensitive construction methods will be used to minimise disturbance to the bird population.
Construction
Traffic levels and traffic safety are important considerations for a project such as this. As part of the planning proposal, a Construction Traffic Management Plan will be submitted which identifies the route to site and sets out the rules to ensure works can be conducted safely. For example, designated times of day to minimise congestion at busy periods, avoiding problem areas/times.
A solar farm can take approximately three to four months to construct. Most of the deliveries take place during the first six weeks. After the parts have been delivered to site, there are fewer vehicle movements as the site is built in situ and then made operational. Conrad Energy will be in communication with local neighbours, so you know what to expect and when.
Once the solar farm is completed, it requires very little maintenance as it will be remotely monitored by CCTV. It may be visited 10 – 20 times a year by a works van or 4×4.
A Transport Statement has been submitted with the application which sets out construction routes and traffic management measures.
The operational life of solar panels is approximately 40 years. After this time the site is decommissioned in line with the list of planning conditions attached to the decision notice. It takes approximately 4 months and is undertaken by the project owner.
Consultation and engagement
You can register for updates on the project by emailing titchfieldlane@conradenergy.co.uk, and we will keep you updated as we progress the plans. We follow all GDPR guidelines in relation to personal data and you can opt out at any time.
Please ask a question or request a call and one of the team will respond as soon as possible. You can email us on titchfieldlane@conradenergy.co.uk
We encourage everyone who visits this site to provide feedback and comment.
For those who prefer to write to us, address correspondence to ‘Freepost Conrad Energy Ltd’ (no stamp or further address information required) and it will make it to our team who will respond to you.
A further opportunity to provide comments and feedback directly to the Winchester City Council is available, after a planning application is submitted. Register your interest with us to be kept informed when our application is submitted.
Tell us what you think
We’d like to hear your feedback to help us shape our plans. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Email: titchfieldlane@conradenergy.co.uk
Post: Titchfield Lane c/o Conrad Energy, Suites D&E Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY