Solar farm bid unveiled

PLANS for a solar farm and industrial units - generating green energy and almost £1m a year for council services - have been unveiled.

Leicestershire County Council is drawing up plans to create the renewable energy facility, and 14 workspaces for businesses, on land it owns 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.

Deputy council leader, Coun Byron Rhodes, 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.

“Investing in property also means we can generate income to plough back into services, reducing the impact of national funding reductions.”

It is estimated the project would cost £16m – this would be paid for using one-off pots of money, including income from property sales and investment.

The council’s cabinet will discuss the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, May 1. If approved, plans will be firmed up and brought back to the cabinet, and a planning application submitted to the council’s planning board.