Gedling Country Park solar farm could stay in place for 15 years longer

The solar farm at Gedling Country Park
-Credit:Local Democracy Reporting Service / Gedling Borough Council


The owner of a solar farm next to Gedling Country Park wants to keep the panels in place for 15 years longer than originally planned. The facility on the site of the former Gedling Colliery cost around £6m to build, and first opened in 2015.

It is on the upper part of the former colliery spoil tip, where waste was dumped, known as Wicketwood Hill. Around 1,700 homes are powered using electricity generated by some 23,000 panels, which are managed by Anesco.

Foresight Group, the applicant, is now looking to extend the life of the solar farm from 25 years to 40 years. Plans, which have been recommended for approval at a Gedling Borough Council planning committee meeting on February 12, say: “The applicant states that the proposed retention of the existing solar farm for a 40-year period is due to a result of market changes and technological advancement, which allow solar farms to be maintained for longer periods.

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“They state that the panels themselves are also capable of an electricity generating life much greater than the 25-year period. It has been determined that the solar farm can continue to operate viably beyond the 25-year period and the project can make effective use of the existing infrastructure and grid connection during years 25-40.

“This application proposes no physical changes to the solar farm or any of the mitigation measures previously permitted.” Under an agreement back in 2015, the owner of the solar farm signed up to provide the Gedling Conservation Trust with £1,000 per year for 25 years.

This money is used as mitigation for the solar farm development and is used to maintain habitats at the Netherfield Lagoons Nature Reserve. Gedling Conservation Trust has requested the owner continues with the agreement for the new 40-year lifespan, and that the £1,000 is increased each year in line with inflation.

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It has further asked for an annual contribution of £5,000 between 2025 and 2027 to help fight a non-native, invasive plant species, Himalayan balsam, which has become a problem on the nature reserve.

However plans note this request may be considered “unreasonable” because it did not form part of the original agreement. Plans will be considered next Wednesday.