Decision due on solar farm plan for landfill site

The plans would see 3,000 solar panels on the site on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate

Plans to turn a former landfill site into a solar farm look set to get the go-ahead after being recommended for approval.

More than 3,000 solar panels would be installed on the four hectare (9.8 acre) site on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate in Oswestry, Shropshire under the proposals.

A report from the council’s planning officer highlighted concerns about the weight of the panels on a clay "cap" which covers the old landfill site and recommended a condition be added if the plans were approved.

A final decision is set to be made on 17 September.

First proposed in 2021, if the plans were approved it would see Shropshire Council and dairy company Arla Foods collaborate in the management and use of the facility.

The council would run the solar farm for 25 years while Arla would agree to buy electricity generated by the site at a preset price.

The report recommended, over the issue of the clay "cap", a condition that a pollutant monitoring scheme was developed for the site before the start of any works.

“The solar farm would generate 2MW to supply Arla Foods with any surplus energy exported to the national grid,” it said.

“This additional capacity would make a welcome contribution towards the approximate total of 5,000MW installed capacity required to make the county self-sufficient in renewable energy."

The application had no public comments but there was an expression of support from Oswestry Town Council who said the site was suitable for a solar array.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.