Solar Farm at Barkham Ride, Barkham

Wokingham Borough Council is inviting suppliers to participate in market engagement in relation to a proposed solar farm installation on approximately 52 hectares of agricultural land (High Barn Farm, Brook Farm and Rooks Nest Farm), owned by Wokingham Council, at Barkham Ride and Commonfield Lane, Barkham. It includes the installation of circa 67,000 solar photovoltaic panels (circa 29 MWp), inverters, transformers and cabins, a sub-station and grid connection to a SSEN substation 2km to the north on Barkham Road, together with associated landscaping, fencing, lighting and CCTV. We would be looking to engage with experienced solar farms design and build contractors.

Planning permission for the Development has been approved and details of the scheme and the associated planning application documents can be viewed on the planning pages of the Council’s website using application reference 211081 - https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/detail.asp?AltRef=211081&ApplicationNumber=211081&AddressPrefix=&Postcode=&KeywordSearch=&Submit=Search

The aim is for works on site to start in September 2022 with completion to be achieved by May 2023.

Suppliers with relevant experience are invited to submit a case study / example, demonstrating experience of at least one completed project of similar size (solar farm with capacity 20 MWp or above) delivered in the UK and / or engagement under energy performance contract. Suppliers with evidenced relevant experience will be invited to attend a virtual meeting via MS Teams. Exact date and time will be confirmed closer to the expressions of interest closing date via ProContract. Information obtained as part of the market engagement events will be carefully collated and incorporated into the subsequent tender documents.