PLANS for a huge solar farm at Bulphan have now been formally submitted to Thurrock Council.

In September last year Thurrock Nub News reported on initial consultations between the company that wants to operate the site and Thurrock Council.

Somerset-based Aardvark EM Ltd wanted to know if the council wanted a full environmental report on the impact of the project. They did – and now it's been put together and accompanies a full application and planning statement lodged with the authority's planning team.

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 access to the site has been changed from the original application after consultation with the council, which permitted the futuristic-looking Glass House Health retreat to be built. There have been a number of other rural developments permitted around Bulphan and a number of others remain on the books as developers appear to have a preference for the village.

And if those homes are successful, perhaps they could be drawing their energy from the neighbouring fields.

You can check out the full application and comment on it here.