Update on inflatable greenhouse farm planned for M4 tip
Sustain Wiltshire has asked for material changes, but says they won't impact the project
Plans to establish a revolutionary new fruit and vegetable farm using inflatable greenhouses near the M4 have been updated.
In 2021 Crapper and Sons Landfill Limited was given planning permission to trial a prototype inflatable greenhouse at Park Grounds, Royal Wootton Bassett.
The company’s Sustain Initiative brand plans to use the gasses generated by the landfill site to heat the inflatable greenhouses.
Eventually, the company wants to erect 100 greenhouses the size of three tennis courts and as tall as two double decker buses.
Each greenhouse would be capable of producing 10 tonnes of fruit and veg.
The “Super-Midden” would supply 80 per cent of the all fruit and vegetable requirements for Royal Wootton Basset, Malmesbury, Purton and Brinkworth, consuming up to 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
While Sustain Wiltshire awaits a decision from Wiltshire Council on the full scheme, it has applied to make changes to the prototype greenhouse.
In an application to the council, the company says: “Since the grant of permission for the prototype, further detailed research and design has been undertaken.”
It asks for the council to retrospectively agree a change to the materials, while also permitting the addition of a Sustain logo – work it says has already taken place.
It says that the changes “are not considered to give rise to any additional impacts.”
A decision on the proposed changes is expected before the end of June.