Solar farm to power 15,000 homes likely to go ahead

The solar farm would generate 49.99MW of electricity for 50 years

A solar farm designed to power 15,000 homes is likely to go ahead despite objections.

The installation would cover three farm fields on the A14 road near Thrapston in Northamptonshire.

Campaigners say the farm should not be built on good-quality farmland and will dominate the landscape.

The developers claim it will save approximately 21,496 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

With the UK's last coal-fired power station due to close next week, and the projected doubling of electricity use by 2050, the developers of the Wood Lodge Solar Project said there would be "an urgent need" for alternative generators.

The 59 hectare site is about 0.9 miles (1.5km) from the town of Thrapston, alongside the A14 dual carriageway.

So far, the proposal has had a mixed response from the public, with North Northamptonshire Council receiving 29 objections and 20 letters of support.

Those against it raised concerns about the harm to protected species and biodiversity and increased traffic.

Some said solar panels should be sited elsewhere on brownfield land or on top of roofs.

Campaigners say the solar farm should not be built on good-quality farmland

One person wrote: “Solar Farms have no reason to be placed on good quality farmland, so why is this site being considered?

"[The council] needs to have a renewable electricity plan rather than just agreeing to piecemeal solar farms across the county in the belief that renewables are green and therefore good.”

Another said: “As a Thrapston resident, I am totally opposed to these developments for so many reasons. Amongst these are the sheer dominance and scale of the plans."

The same person also raised “the impact of traffic on an already gridlocked road passing both Thrapston & Titchmarsh."

The solar farm would be built on three fields alongside the A14

In its planning application, the developer said there were no brownfield sites in the area that were close enough to the grid connection point, and there would be "negligible traffic movements to the site" once it was operational.

A number of comments in support were also submitted, which generally expressed the need for green energy, including one from Thrapston Town Council.

Council officers said there would be an adverse visual impact from the development, but the generation of renewable energy did "raise substantial benefits in favour of the proposal".

They recommended the project for approval, but councillors will make the final decision on 2 October.

The Wood Lodge Solar Project has been asked for a response.