Planners have approved the construction of a 30-hectare 16MW solar farm near the village of Allbrighton in Shropshire, England.
The project is a collaboration between Boultbee Brooks' Renewable Energy division and Infraland. Known as County Lane Solar Farm, it aims to generate sufficient renewable energy to supply approximately 5,000 households, resulting in a reduction of 3,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Furthermore, the developers have committed to planting species-rich grass, wildflowers, and new hedgerows around the site. This initiative is expected to have a significant positive impact on the environment, potentially increasing the area's overall biodiversity by up to 99%, according to the developer.
The joint venture partnership has already obtained consent for a total of 90MW across multiple sites and is actively working on a pipeline of similar projects, amounting to 300MW, in 16 different locations throughout the UK.
James Whitcher, the managing director of Boultbee Brooks, expressed satisfaction with the project's approval, stating, “Together with Infraland, we are dedicated to developing a new portfolio of efficient and biodiverse solar parks across the UK. We are thrilled to have received consent for this particular project.”
Nick Barber, co-founding director of Infraland, shared in the enthusiasm, saying, “We are delighted to have obtained planning consent for our project at Albrighton. As we move forward, we will oversee the construction, delivery, and long-term management of the solar farm, underscoring our commitment to the initiative, which is scheduled to commence in 2024.”