Cambridge Power has received planning permission from Bedford Borough Council for the development of the Cobholden Solar Farm in Bedfordshire. The 50MW solar project will be located near Staploe and is expected to generate up to 49.9MW of renewable electricity.
In addition to the solar panels and necessary infrastructure, the plans include significant ecological and landscape enhancements, such as tree and scrub planting, hedgerow improvements, and wildflower areas. According to Cambridge Power, these efforts will result in a net increase of over 100% in the biodiversity of the land.
Richard Stanton, Chairman of Cambridge Power, expressed satisfaction with the approval, saying, “We are delighted to secure permission, under delegated powers, for this solar farm from Bedford Borough Council. The planning permission was granted following extensive consultation with local residents and stakeholders, ensuring that the project meets the highest standards of environmental and community considerations.”
The approval for the Cobholden Solar Farm follows the success of Cambridge Power's Thorney Eco-hub project, a 49.9MW solar farm combined with a 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Peterborough, which received approval last summer. This marks the 13th successful planning application for the company since 2019, with a total capacity of over 750MW now consented.
