Enviromena has won approval for its first renewable energy project of 2025 – a solar farm near a former coal mine in Durham.
The 8.5MWp Fox Cover solar farm, located in Seaham, will deliver clean energy for the region, powering approximately 3,100 homes annually and saving 1,700 tonnes of carbon per year.
It will be sited near the former Dawdon Colliery, marking the area’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Chief development officer at Enviromena Mark Harding said: “We are thrilled by this planning approval and grateful for the overwhelming support from Durham County Council and the local community.
“Given the public attention that solar farm developments usually attract, the fact that this project had no objections from the local community… speaks volumes for the suitability of the location of the site and the efforts made by the team to develop this scheme.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering renewable energy projects that provide substantial environmental and social benefits, helping the UK achieve its net-zero goals.”
The company says the project will deliver biodiversity net gains of 213% in habitat units and 192% in hedgerow units.
There will be nearly one kilometre of new native hedgerow, 4,000 square metres of woodland planting, and eight hectares of meadow grassland habitat.
Enviromena has also engaged with Seaham Town Council regarding community benefits and has pledged to fund key local projects.
The company currently manages over 300MWp of renewable energy assets, with a development pipeline exceeding 3GW of solar and battery storage projects across the UK and Europe.