One of UK's biggest solar farms to be built near Gloucester

JBM Solar Projects 21 Ltd wants to create a solar farm on land near Highleadon

One of the UK's biggest solar farms has been given planning permission.

JBM Solar Projects 21 Ltd has been given approval to create a 49,9-megawatt solar farm with battery storage on land near Highleadon, between Newent and Gloucester.

The new solar farm will cover more than 286 acres of agricultural land and be in use for 40 years.

Forest of Dean District Council's development management committee approved the proposals on Tuesday.

Officers had recommended approving the proposal as on balance, they said the solar farms' benefits would "significantly and demonstrably" outweigh any harms.

District councillors also felt this planning application was the least contentious of the sites which had been proposed between Newent and Highnam.

Taynton Parish Council objected saying there should be greater separation of the panels from Kents Green at the western end of the development.

They said glint and glare may be an issue for residents, particularly in Kents Green, and noise from inverter cabin cooling fans could cause issue.

However, consultants working on the scheme say the solar farm supports the UK Government's intention to move to a low carbon economy.

The committee voted to approve the proposals by seven votes to one, with one abstention.

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