Express & Star

Solar panel plan could power up to 12,000 homes

More than 16,000 solar panels could be installed on a farm to power up to 12,000 homes.

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The solar farm, in Tasley, on the outskirts of Bridgnorth, would also include an electricity sub-station and cover 20 acres of land.

The plans, by Green Switch Developments Ltd, for High Trees Farm, would also include a mounted CCTV system and security fence.

Josh Hellawell, a planner at Green Switch, said although the electricity would not directly benefit people living locally, the solar farm could supply power for up to thousands of homes.

He said: "We were approached by the landowner, Don Walker, to look at his land.

"There can be many constraints, including the quality of the land and the amount we can be charged by the local energy company.

"We contacted Weston Power Distribution about the capacity of the local grid and how we could feed energy into it.

"The majority of contracts cost a lot and there is usually a large time scale but everything came back positive."

Underground cabling would feed into the control building from across the site and would be housed within the cavities of the building's foundations.

Materials for the solar farm could see 100 lorries making deliveries for up four months.

The components would be carried from a track bordering the site, off Church Lane.

The agents say the road will be suitable to support the vehicles using the local road network during the construction of the project.

Mr Hellawell said the solar farm would produce just under four megawatts of energy, which would be enough to power 12,000 homes.

But he said supplying power to homes locally was not an option because it would involved building several expensive power sub-stations.

He said: "Solar energy is constantly increasing in efficiency but due to costs we can't power local properties.

"Consultation will continue for another 10-days and then we hope to hear from Shropshire Council by about August 25."

The plans have received eight letter of objection with concerns raised over the the affect on the wildlife, the impact on residents, building in the Green Belt, the height of the security fences and the installation CCTV cameras.

English Heritage has also raised concerns about the plans due the impact on the nearby Grade II Listed Alderham Park House, Alderham park and garden, and the Grade II Listed SS Peter's and Paul's Church.

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