Oakley Solar

 
 

Benefits of Oakley solar

 
49.9MW site that will produce enough green energy to meet the annual energy needs of 15,000 homes
Helping local and national governments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Opportunities to maintain agricultural use of the land through sheep grazing
Restoring historic ponds to enhance biodiversity
Sensitively designed proposals that will protect and maintain the Oakley Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
The creation of a new wildflower meadow in the field closest to Ashby Road
Delivering a Community Fund to support sustainable initiatives that benefit the local community
At the end of the solar farm’s 40-year lifespan the land can be returned to full agricultural use
 
 

Concept masterplan

Site layout plan - click for larger view

Site layout key

  1. Existing scrub/tree belt to be strengthened and infilled where necessary and maintained at 3m minimum height

  2. Existing hedgerow to be strengthened and infilled where necessary and maintained at 3m minimum height

  3. Proposed shrub planting to provide further screening maintained at 3m height

  4. Proposed ecological pond with pond edge grassland sown around edges

  5. Proposed woodland scrub edge planting to provide eco-tone along existing woodland edge

  6. Proposed species-rich native hedgerow with tree planting

  7. Reinstated historic native species-rich hedgerow with trees

  8. Proposed woodland planting

 
 

Hathern Wildlife Group site tour

Endurance Energy were pleased to welcome the Hathern Wildlife Group to the Oakley Solar site, during the scheme's public consultation phase. The Wildlife Group were given a tour around the site by the scheme's ecologist, Brennan Briggs of Aspect Ecology, who explained how the solar scheme will preserve the site's existing wildlife habitats and offer the opportunity to provide new habitats for a wide range of species. We were very pleased to follow up on this site tour with further discussion with Hathern Wildlife Group. These led directly to the provision of new wildlife ponds and hedgerow planting in response to their requests.