Telford solar farm due for December switch-on

It means the 16,400 solar panels on a 30-acre site near to the Jigsaw School, in Wheat Leasows, could be switched on in the second half of December.

It will become only the second council-run solar farm in the UK and Telford & Wrekin Council expects it to make a profit of £4.5 million over its 25-year lifetime.

Council spokeswoman Emily Knightley said: "We are on track with the construction.

"The panels should be going up in the next week to 10 days and it should be completed at the beginning of December and ready to be switched on in the middle to end of December."

The commercial-scale 4MW capacity solar farm can already be seen going up on fields off the A442 by the Leegomery Roundabout and at the entrance to Wheat Leasows. It is hoped energy could be produced from the middle of next month.

The Telford project is one of several solar farms planned or already approved for Shropshire.

Power company Vogt Solar is behind the scheme at Tiddiecross, in Charlton near Wrockwardine.

Another solar farm is already proposed for Condover, near Shrewsbury, and land has also been earmarked for a power plant at Twemlows Stud Farm, near Whitchurch.

Proposals have also been put forward to build solar farms at Tasley near Bridgnorth, Acton Scott, Burlton near Wem, Whitton near Ludlow and Neen Sollars near Cleobury Mortimer. IZEN energy systems was awarded the contract to build the Telford solar farm this year and it should generate enough energy to power more than 800 homes.

A financial model shows the council expects to make more than £13.6 million over the planned 25-year life time of the farm while more than £9.2 million will be spent, including financing costs – a surplus of £4.41 million.

The money would be poured into services for elderly and young people and the environment, according to council chiefs.