MORE than 40 people have lodged objections to a plan for a solar farm on Green Belt land at Glazebury.
But planning officers at Warrington are recommending the scheme be approved when it is considered at a meeting of the borough council’s development management committee on Thursday.
The scheme involves two agricultural fields at Duckinfield Farm, Hurst Lane, Glazebury.
The scheme would require the laying of an underground cable to Culcheth, crossing Jibcroft Brook and a number of fields before joining Fowley Common Lane and the A574 Warrington Road and then following Culcheth Hall Drive, Lodge Drive and Ellesmere Road to where it will link with an existing substation.
Access to the site would be via Hurst Lane, which also provides access to Hurst Hall Farm, a small residential development, Glazebury CE Primary School and Glazebury Cricket Club.
Larger construction vehicles would be able to access the site via a level crossing on the nearby railway line, however.
Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service has warned about the possible impact on the Tudor origins of the adjacent Hurst Hall Farm.
The solar farm would consist of rows of solar panels, either fixed in place or tracking the movement of the sun. It would have an operational life of 40 years, after which it would be returned to agriculture. During its life, it would still be available for grazing sheep,.
A public footpath crosses the site which would be subject to management measures to ensure the safety of users.
Landscaping would be carried out, including planting, to screen the solar farm from public viewpoints. Existing trees would be retained and enhanced. Minimal waste would be produced by the development and there would be unlikely to be any significant noise impact.
Planning officers say the proposal is considered to use “Grey Belt” land and would not be inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
The loss of agricultural land and landscape harm are considered to be outweighed by the environmental benefits of renewable energy and the impacts of the development on the local highway network including public rights of way are acceptable subject to conditions.
There would also be no unacceptable harm to residential amenity.
3 Comments
Why can’t the solar panels be located on roofs of office & warehouses in nearby Risley? Cattle & crops belong in fields.
Probably because the person applying doesn’t own the offices in Risley.
Also, the field can be used for grazing throughout.
hat’s a great initiative — schemes like this really help make solar and EV charging more accessible for households that might otherwise be put off by upfront costs. It’s good to see local support continuing, especially as battery storage becomes just as important as panels for maximising savings.