Solar farm plans submitted by Leicestershire CC

Major plans to develop a solar farm and a carbon neutral site have been lodged by Leicestershire County Council, which, if approved, could power 3,000 homes a year.

Based on Barrow Road, Quorn, the solar farm would generate almost 10,000 megawatt hours (MWhrs) of electricity a year - enough to power around 3,000 homes.

The plans include aiming to create a carbon neutral industrial site, which would feature nine high-spec industrial units and could include solar roof panels, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle charging.

It is estimated that this phase of the project would cost around £14 million, which the council would pay by using one-off pots of money, including income from property sales and investment. The returns would generate more than £830,000 a year, which would benefit services from social care to highway maintenance.

Byron Rhodes, cabinet memeber for finance and resources, said: “We are a green council and tackling climate change is one of our top priorities. We take our commitments to reduce carbon very seriously and, if approved, this solar farm would produce clean, green energy, while building new units would offer local businesses the chance to get their foot on the ladder or expand. Investing in property is a priority for the council as it means we can also generate income to plough back into services, helping to meet ever-increasing demands.”