The owner of a solar farm near Gedling Country Park in Nottinghamshire is seeking permission to extend its lifespan by 15 years. The facility, which currently powers around 1,700 homes, was built in 2015 and is scheduled to operate for 25 years. The new plans propose a 40-year operational period citing market changes and technological advancements that allow for longer-term solar farm maintenance.
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.
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.
“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.
SOLAR ENERGY RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANNING PERMISSION ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION
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