WELCOME
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about our plans for Highnam.
Voltis is proposing a new solar farm at Highnam Farm, Gloucestershire, with a generating capacity of 36MW – enough to power approximately 18,000 homes annually with clean, renewable energy. The solar farm will have a planned 45-year operational lifespan, reflecting its temporary nature, with full restoration of the site once the project concludes.
Your views are very important to us, and we want to ensure that our proposals are delivered with close collaboration with the local community so they can provide the right benefits for local residents of Highnam, and the wider region.
This website has been created to provide more information on our proposals so you can find out more and share your feedback ahead of us submitting a planning application to Tewkesbury Borough Council.
Our public consultation is open now until 8th December. Please make sure all feedback has been submitted before the consultation closes to ensure your views are taken into consideration.
THE SITE
Voltis is committed to providing clean and sustainable energy solutions while also respecting the farming practices and ecology of the land.
Spanning approximately 59 hectares, the site is located east of Two Mile Lane in Highnam. This location was carefully chosen for its proximity to a local substation, ensuring an efficient grid connection for the solar farm.
Accessibility to the electricity distribution network is crucial for the viability of renewable energy projects. The site would connect to the national grid via underground cables connecting to substation located close to the site.
This will allow connection to the National Grid without the lengthy delays which are affecting many renewable energy projects in the country and can make a meaningful contribution to Tewksbury Borough Council’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
This site has a long planning history. A previous planning application for this site was approved in 2016, granted on appeal, but during the planning process, local residents raised concerns about its proximity to heritage sites.
Voltis has taken this feedback seriously and is committed to a proposal that better aligns with community preferences. In response to local concerns, Voltis has redesigned the layout of this scheme. This includes moving the site further away from sensitive heritage assets to the south of the site, addressing community concerns while maintaining a strong commitment to clean energy.
A key aspect of this revised proposal is its consideration of local heritage. Unlike the original application by a different developer, the new plan has been designed to move further away from the Grade 2 listed Beauchamp Lodge, ensuring that the development will have minimal impact on these valuable assets.
WHY HERE, WHY SOLAR?
Reliable and Predictable Energy
With sunlight available at consistent times each day, solar power generation is highly predictable. By generating abundant, homegrown renewable energy, we reduce our dependence on imports and help protect consumers from unpredictable energy price fluctuations.
Affordable Power
Solar panels have no moving parts, requiring minimal maintenance and only occasional inspections. This low-cost approach to electricity generation supports a sustainable energy future with the potential for lower prices for everyone.
Supporting Local and National Energy Goals
The solar farm will provide renewable energy for approximately 18,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by around 10,000 tonnes annually, which will almost double the installed renewable energy capacity in the Borough. This project is essential in supporting the Borough’s transition to net zero by 2030.
COMPONENTS OF A SOLAR FARM
Click for more information.
1. Solar Panels
Solar Panels
2. Transformer
Transformer
3. Underground Cabling
Underground Cabling
4. Energy Distributed
Energy Distributed
BENEFITS
Strengthening National Energy Security
This scheme will play a key role in helping the UK meet its renewable energy targets, reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Supporting Local Clean Energy Ambitions
Voltis’ proposed 36MW solar farm will play a crucial role in helping the Borough achieve its ambitious goals to transition to net zero by 2030.
Community Benefit Fund
Voltis is committed to creating a meaningful and lasting impact on the community. A community fund will be created with funds allocated based on feedback on local priorities from the local community.
The solar farm will have a planned 45-year operational lifespan with the community benefit fund providing funding for initiatives in the local area for each year of the project.
You can provide your ideas for the fund via our feedback form below!
Enhancing Local Biodiversity
The site will have a 15-metre buffer on the eastern boundary of planting, including hedgerows, trees, and wild grassland.
Extensive Landscaping
Our landscaping plans will create vital habitat connectivity, benefiting local wildlife such as pollinators, birds, and small mammals, including bats, hedgehogs, voles, and mice.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND
Voltis is dedicated to ensuring that the local community benefits from the solar farm beyond the environmental advantages. As part of the project, a community fund will be created, and local residents will have the opportunity to vote on how the funds should be allocated.
Themes for potential funding include protecting green spaces and improving the local environment, providing targeted support to help with cost-of-living challenges, preserving local heritage and community identity, and supporting green education initiatives. Through this process, Voltis aims to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the community, in line with local priorities.
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
FEEDBACK
Our consultation is currently live, and you can submit your feedback using the feedback form below. Please make sure to do so before 8th December.
You can also get in touch with the project team by:
- Calling our community information line at: 0333 358 0502 (Monday to Friday – 9.00am to 5.30pm)
- Emailing us with your comments, questions or feedback at: highnam@havingyoursay.co.uk
- Writing to: FREEPOST SHAPE TOMORROW
- Attending our in-person consultation event on Thursday 4th December at Highnam Community Centre, Newent Road, Highnam, Gloucester GL2 8DG from 3:30pm – 7:00pm.
All feedback received will be summarised and responded to in a Statement of Community Involvement which will be submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council alongside the outline planning application for the proposals later this year.
ABOUT VOLTIS
Voltis formed in 2019 when our founders came together to embark on an ambitious joint venture, securing some of the largest connections in the UK.
Our team is dedicated to improving how we generate energy, ensuring that truly sustainable and renewable energy is provided to protect our environment and generations to come.
We are determined to make a positive impact on the environment and on the communities in which we operate. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve our projects and to make them more efficient and sustainable.
Our portfolio of renewable energy projects spans the UK. Our projects are designed to generate maximum energy output while minimising impact on the environment and local communities and maximising Biodiversity Net Gain.
We are committed to promoting sustainable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Our goal is to make clean energy accessible and affordable for everyone.
Find out more about us via our website here: https://www.voltis.co.uk/