Bid to erect 15,300 solar panels at Shropshire farm

More than 15,300 solar panels could be built on a site of about 15 acres of land to the north of Moor Farm near Baschurch.

Applicants say the proposed development will have the capacity to produce about 3.75 megawatts of renewable electricity, which will be fed directly into the local electricity distribution network.

As part of the scheme put forward by Navitas Projects Ltd, the park could produce enough power for about 1,140 homes.

Construction of the site is expected to take about three to four months, and the solar park is anticipated to have a life span of 25 years.

Valerie Jennings, assistant planner on behalf of agents Wardell Armstrong LLP, said: "This is another way they are trying to diversify the farm.

"It is one of the smaller developments of its kind in the area.

"We have worked closely with the local community, including the parish council."

In a report she added: "The development of the site will provide a significant contribution towards renewable energy targets, not only locally but for the UK as a whole.

"Renewable energy is key to the UKs low-carbon energy future. We need to radically reduce gas emissions and diversify our energy sources.

"There are no residential properties on or directly adjacent to the site. The nearest properties are located 400 metres to the east of the proposal site.

"Once operational, the solar park will require very few maintenance visits and the traffic impacts are therefore anticipated to be minimal.

"The development will sit within the existing farm land boundaries and can continue to be used for agriculture in the form of grazing or hay cultivation once construction has been completed."

A public consultation event was held in February at Baschurch Village Hall.

Shropshire Council hopes to make a decision on the scheme by August 13.

The first multi-million pound solar farm given permission was at Hayford Farm, near Westbury, in 2013.

Others given the go-ahead since include sites at Wheat Leasows, Hadley, Telford; Green Farm, Condover, near Shrewsbury; Twemlows Stud Farm, near Whitchurch and Burlton, near Wem.

But in the south of the county solar farm plans for Whitton, near Ludlow; Acton Scott, near Church Stretton; Tasley, near Bridgnorth and Neen Sollars, near Cleobury Mortimer, have all been turned down either by planning officers or by Shropshire Council's south planning committee.