Cotswold District Council has officially granted planning permission for Innova's ambitious 13 megawatt (MW) Welsh Way solar farm project, set to be located near Fairford, Gloucestershire. This solar farm is positioned conveniently close to Innova's Cheltenham office and is anticipated to generate sufficient renewable energy to power approximately 2,700 homes upon completion.
The development promises not only to provide clean energy but also to enhance local biodiversity significantly. Innova reports a projected biodiversity net gain of 115.09% in habitat units at the site, highlighting its commitment to environmental stewardship.
In addition to its ecological contributions, the project team is working on establishing a community benefit fund designed to support local initiatives, further reinforcing the project's positive impact on the surrounding community.
Innova project manager William Griffiths expressed enthusiasm for the approval, stating, “We are thrilled to announce that Welsh Way Solar Farm has received planning permission from Cotswold District Council. We are grateful to Cotswold District Council and their statutory consultees for their proactive engagement throughout the pre-application and planning determination phases of the project. We look forward to the next stages of the project leading up to the project's construction and operation.”
The company also extended thanks to Ben Lewis at RenPlan for his expertise as the planning consultant, the landowners for their cooperation, and Roadnight Taylor for their contributions related to grid integration. With planning permission secured, Innova is now poised to advance to the next phases of development, moving closer to energizing the Welsh Way Solar Farm.
