Solar farm the size of 130 football pitches approved

A huge solar farm will be built on land in Leicestershire and Rutland after councillors voted to approve plans.

Rutland County Council's planning committee backed the scheme, which will see the farm built in Stygate Lane, between the villages of Pickwell, Somerby and Whissendine.

Documents show the site will be the size of 130 football pitches and will power about 25,000 homes over the next 40 years.

Melton Borough Council approved a linked application in October last year, meaning work on the site can now begin.

The solar farm will be situated on two parcels of land separated by the A606 and owned by two different farmers.

It will predominantly lie in Leicestershire, with the smaller section crossing into Rutland.

The planning meeting heard the scheme would not be able to go ahead without approval from Rutland, as the grid connection and substation are both on that side of the border.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said councillors heard most objections to the plans were based around flooding concerns.

The development will save about 43,393 tonnes of carbon each year, according to the applicant RWE Renewables.

Speaking at the meeting on 20 January, RWE's development manager Daniel Corcoran said: "The council's landscape consultant was clear that there were unlikely to be any effects on the landscape.

"With regards to flood risk specifically in Rutland, it is within flood zone one and has not been deemed at risk of surface water flooding."

Corcoran said the income from the solar panels would allow the landowner in Rutland to re-invest into the farm and allow the fourth generation of the family to continue farming.

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