Plans on 270-acre land for solar farm submitted to council
A solar farm spanning 270 acres (109 hectares) is being planned for fields on the border between Leicestershire and Rutland.
The proposed site, located at Stygate Farm between Pickwell, Somerby, and Whissendine, has seen plans submitted to Melton Borough Council on behalf of RWE Renewables. Currently, the land is used for agricultural purposes.
RWE Renewables has requested that the council determine if additional environmental checks are necessary before moving forward with a final planning application.
The project will be divided into two sections: one nearly 198 acres (80 hectares) and the other almost 73 acres (29 hectares).
While most of the land falls within the Melton borough, parts extend into Rutland, requiring planning applications to both the Melton Borough Council and Rutland County Council.
A consultancy firm report submitted on behalf of the applicant stated that the site is not protected under any landscape designations. However, it does contain native trees, hedgerows, a pond, and a tributary of the Whissendine Brook.
