Government approves large-scale solar park

The proposed solar park will sit between two villages in South Derbyshire

Plans for a large-scale solar farm in South Derbyshire have been approved by the government.

A proposal for the Oaklands Farm Solar Park project was submitted to the planning inspectorate in February 2024.

The solar farm and energy storage facility would cover more than 400 acres of land (161 hectares), between the villages of Rosliston and Walton-on-Trent, according to the planning documents.

On Thursday, Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero granted permission for the development to go ahead.

The planning inspectorate oversaw the application due to its scale and national significance.

It said in a statement: "Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the examining authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 19 March."

More than 300 people commented on the application on the government's planning website, with many concerned about loss of farming land.

The government said the examining authority listened and "gave full consideration to all local views".

"Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this six-month examination," it added.

According to planning documents, the firm behind the project said it provide "enough clean renewable electricity to power in the region of 35,000 homes".