Former landfill site could become solar farm

The solar farm would directly provide electricity to the Arla Foods packaging plant (pictured)

A former landfill site could become a solar farm.

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

The development would provide electricity for the neighbouring Arla Foods packaging plant, with excess power sold back to the national grid.

Shropshire Council, which lodged the plan, said the scheme would provide benefits to both the council and the firm, while helping the area meet renewable energy targets.

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

Under the scheme, the council would develop and run the solar farm for 25 years.

"The council generates revenue through electricity sales to Arla Foods and the National Grid, promoting financial sustainability," said a supporting statement.

It also said the project would reduce carbon emissions from the packaging plant by an estimated 418,559kg per year.

If approved, construction work at the site would be expected to last around five months.

The scheme will be decided by the council’s planning department in due course.

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