'Farmland and vineyards' earmarked for solar farm

Julia Breens

24 November 2024 at 7:43 am·1-min read

A farm building is on the left of the image, with a patch of lawn in front. Countryside stretches into the distance, and a sign in the right of the image says 'Horse Leys'. — -Credit: (Image: Google)

Plans for a solar farm the size of 30 football pitches in the Leicestershire countryside have been revealed. Land east of Burton on the Wolds, a few miles from Loughborough, is earmarked for the scheme.

Agent Union4 Planning, acting on behalf of IBE Horse Leys, has made preliminary enquiries to Charnwood Borough Council about the solar farm, which could provide power for almost 5,000 homes if approved. A planning application for the scheme is expected to be submitted in due course, but the agent is currently only asking the council whether additional environmental assessments must be carried out.

The land, at Horse Leys Farm, is described in a document submitted to the council as “arable farmland and vineyards”, and lies to the east of nearby Keepers Lodge Farm. It is a mile and a half from a £35million solar farm at Wymeswold Airfield, which was said to be the largest in the UK when it opened more than a decade ago.

The solar farm would be in place for 40 years if the council gives the go ahead. The site would then be restored to its current use as agricultural land. Work to construct the solar farm would take between four to six months.

Union4 admits the solar farm will have a "significant" effect at "viewpoints close to the site", but promises extra greenery will be planted to mitigate the impact.

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