JBM Solar’s 50MW Stoneshollow solar farm in the UK has been granted planning permission.
The local planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the site being built, with all 15 councillors giving their approval.
The solar farm is located in between Obaston Hollow, Barlestone and Nailstone, in the Hinckley and Bosworth district of Leicestershire.
It will feature co-located battery storage and will provide enough power to meet the equivalent demands of over 22,000 homes, saving over 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 compared to traditional fossil fuel generation.
Proposals for the solar farm also include the design of a 3 acre outdoor classroom and educational space, the creation of a new 2.6km looped walk, a planting programme for one of the UK’s rarest native timber trees, the Black Poplar.
The solar farm will also achieve a biodiversity net gain of over 92%, with over 20 acres of dedicated wildflower meadow, and more than 3.8km of tree/hedge planting.
JBM said it had the support from the local Barlestone parish council, the village primary school, over 180 residents, local community groups and a local church for the site.
The developer said it is “proud to be adding more clean and affordable solar energy to the UK grid” and that the “site showcases what solar farms can achieve”.