Planners at Harris Lamb have successfully secured permission for a solar farm in Shropshire.
Acting for Anglo Renewables, the business’ planning consultancy and environmental teams prepared detailed reports and applied to Shropshire Council for the 40-megawatt solar farm and 12-megawatt Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) on land south of Rock Farm near Ludlow.
Further to extensive debate, the authority’s southern planning committee approved the plan for the development, which will generate the equivalent electricity used for 11,300 houses.
Paul Barton, of Harris Lamb’s Planning Team, said: “Shropshire Council is a very forward-thinking authority, having declared a climate emergency four years ago and prepared a strategy framework in December 2019, which established the objective of achieving net-zero corporate carbon performance by 2030. We had worked hard to design a suitable scheme, and we were hopeful that the committee would recognise the benefits of this scheme, which is part of a £26 million investment”.
“Our planning team and colleagues from our dedicated environmental department worked closely with Officers and the Council’s consultees to reduce the impact on the landscape and heritage assets and improve ecology and arboriculture on site. The proposed scheme will create jobs and providing much-needed renewable energy solutions at a time of global concern around volatile costs surrounding energy provision.
We are delighted that the local authority has given the green light to this development without the need for an appeal. Construction of the solar farm is expected to take around six months, and once complete, will result in a saving of approximately 19,200 tonnes of CO2 ever year,” he added.
James Stone, of Anglo Renewables Rock Farm, said: “Solar is a source of cheap electricity, something we badly need with the cost of living crisis, and it is essential to take action at a local level. We are extremely pleased with this result; it is reassuring to know that Shropshire Council is not deviating from its commitment to its Net Zero targets and that it recognises the extensive biodiversity net gain and the benefits this development will have for the county.”
