RES has submitted a planning application for its 49.9MW Longhedge Solar Farm to Rushcliffe Borough Council.
If consented, the project, located between the villages of Thoroton and Hawksworth in Nottinghamshire, would be capable of producing clean, green electricity for approximately 15,200 homes every year.
The proposal has been through a detailed design process, which has taken account of results from site surveys and assessments, in addition to feedback from the community and stakeholders.
This resulted in several changes being made, including reductions to the number and height of the panels, to ensure the solar farm fits sensitively into the existing landscape whilst maximising the low carbon, cheap electricity generation.
The solar farm has also been specifically designed to enable continued prime agricultural use in the form of sheep farming alongside the production of renewable electricity and a sheep handling facility has been included in the solar farm infrastructure layout.
Sheep farming provides employment, supports rural economies and landscapes managed by grazing sheep support a rich diversity of wildlife, while producing food.
Claire Chamberlain, Development Project Manager at RES, said: “Solar projects like Longhedge are quick to deploy, enable more energy to be generated domestically improving security of supply and contribute to Net Zero targets. They are also the cheapest form of new electricity generation, alongside onshore and offshore wind.
“This proposal supports Rushcliffe Borough Council’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and will contribute to the local economy by providing an estimated £164,000 in business rates annually to help fund vital local services.”