Solar farm between M1 and A5 approved

The 54.9-hectare (136-acre) site aims to operate for 40 years

Plans for a large solar farm between the M1 and A5 have been approved.

The 54.9-hectare (136-acre) site, close to the villages of Kilsby and Crick in Northamptonshire, and is expected to operate for 40 years.

Extra traffic control measures have also been accepted to alleviate some safety worries put forward by the Crick Parish Council.

West Northamptonshire Council unanimously approved the application, submitted by Voltalia UK.

The solar panel development will generate 49.9 MW at its peak, which would then be transferred into the national grid, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

According to the plans, the developer could install up to 76,912 solar panels across the entire site.

Robert Chamberlain, from Voltalia UK, told the planning meeting on Tuesday: "We're an experienced renewable energy developer and power producer and unlike a lot of promoters we build and operate our own sites."

The main entries to the two parcels of the site are from existing field access from Kilsby Road, a single-carriageway route that connects to the A5.

Despite the safety concerns raised by Crick Parish Council surrounding HGV access to the site from the A5, no objections from the public were received and five letters of support were submitted.

Further safety restrictions were added by the council ahead of the approval.