Plans unveiled to build solar farm and save £1m a year
LEICESTERSHIRE County Council is drawing up a £16 million plan to build a solar farm which it hopes can run some of its services, offset funding cuts and boost local businesses.
The project would see the renewable energy facility developed on land owned by the council near Loughborough.
Officials confirmed the council’s plans, adding that the solar farm – which would be accompanied by industrial units – could generate £1 million pound savings to reinvest in council services each year.
Unveiling the proposed scheme, a County Hall spokesman said: “We are drawing up plans to create a renewable energy facility, and 14 workspaces for businesses, on land just off the A6, north of Quorn.
“Each year, the site would produce 10 megawatts of electricity - enough to power around 3,000 homes - and generate £940,000 for the council to invest into front line services including social care.”
The Quorn Solar Farm project would see a series of parallel rows of photovoltaic (PV) panels erect- ed across a 62-acre site which would be connected to the National Grid.
The council spokesman said: “Any possible visual and landscape impacts, such as the maintenance of hedgerows, the mitigation of potential glare and site security would all be taken into account in the detailed design of the scheme.”
If approved, five light industrial units or office space – replacing redundant farm buildings - would be built on a 21,500 sq. ft. site at neighbouring Poole Farm.
Nine single storey light industrial space unites, with offices and landscaping, would also be erected on an adjacent 38,000 sq ft site off Barrow Road.
The county council has been looking into the business case of a solar farm project for some time.
Deputy council leader, Byron Rhodes, said the scheme would boost local businesses.
He said: “This plan is about breathing new life into disused farm land.
“By creating a solar farm, we could produce clean, green energy, and building new units would offer local businesses the chance to get their foot on the ladder or expand.”
The £16m cost would be met by using “on-off pots of money”, including income from property sales and investment.
Coun Rhodes said: “Investing in property also means we can generate income to plough back into services, reducing the impact of national funding reductions.”
If approved, the plans will be drawn up in greater detail and be brought back to the cabinet, ahead of a planning application being submitted to the authority’s development control and regulatory board.