A company bidding to build a gas production plant and solar energy farm on a farmer’s field will not have to conduct an environmental impact assessment.

Rivan Industries Ltd, which runs gas production plants, had put in a query to planners at Swindon Borough Council to ask if an environmental impact assessment would be needed for the plan to install solar panels and the gas production plant on a field north of Blunsdon, off Little Rose Lane.

This is a standard precursor to larger-scale planning applications.

In the information provided Rivan Industries said as well as the panels, the production plant would be equivalent to 15 40-foot shipping containers sited on the field.

The plan is to produce renewable natural gas by heating limestone to release carbon dioxide that it has absorbed from the air. Meanwhile, water molecules are separated using electricity into hydrogen and oxygen.

The hydrogen and carbon dioxide and then heated in a reactor to produce the gas that would be fed directly into the gas grid via a pipeline.

The solar panels would be needed to create the energy for the gas production process.

In considering whether an EIA is needed Swindon Borough Council planning officers said: “The proposed development is extremely limited in its use of natural resources during construction and operation, with the site being restored when the development is decommissioned.

“The site is not located within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and the unmanned development would have no emissions to air or water, or intrusion that would lead to ground contamination. The limited vehicle movements during construction and almost negligible during operation is not considered to generate levels of emissions that would warrant concern.

“With regard to ecology, the site is not covered by any ecological designations. However, any form of development on the site will need to demonstrate positive biodiversity net gain.

“The site currently consists of agricultural fields and the soils on site are understood to be not highly rated for agricultural purposes. It should be noted the proposed use will be temporary, with land to be returned to its previous use at the end of the lifespan of the development. As such, the development will not result in the permanent loss of agricultural land.”

A full planning application and consent will still be needed for the project to proceed.

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