THURROCK Council's planning department has received an application for a screening assessment on plans to build a huge solar farm on land near Bulphan.

The plan is to create the facility, which will be connected to the national grid, on a swathe of fields to the west of the village.

The full plans for the site can be read here.

The site, which surrounds Bulphan Fen, is currently used mainly for arable crops. The applicants say that when generation of renewable energy at the site ceases, the solar panels can be removed and the land returned to its current use and says that it is likely the quality of the soil will be improved.

The site will be accessed by Harrow Road and Harrow Lane, where recently the council permitted the futuristic-looking Glass House Health retreat to be built.

The application for screening, gives Thurrock Council the opportunity to decide whether a full environmental impact assessment, which can be a costly and somewhat time-consuming procedure, is needed.

The full application and the opportunity for residents to comment can be found here.

Over recent years the area around Bulphan has become the target for many developments, including several significant housing sites - some of which have already been built.