County Durham solar farm plan approved

A planning application for a new solar farm, on a former coal mining site in County Durham, has been approved by councillors.

Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd, a UK based renewable energy business, secured permission to create a 49.9 Megawatt (MW) solar farm at Bluestone Farm – to the north of Cockfield and south-east of the village of High Lands.

Once operational, the project will generate significant renewable energy, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and help Durham County Council to achieve its ambitious climate change goals - having declared a climate emergency in 2019.

The solar farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 13,000 households annually. This would represent a projected carbon emission reduction of around 8,700 tonnes, the equivalent of taking around 5,000 cars off the road each year.

Although not a planning requirement, the scheme will also see Bluefield establish a £400,000 community fund, set aside for local energy and energy efficiency initiatives.

An open cast and deep coal mining site prior to its use for grazing sheep, the location for the proposed solar farm was carefully chosen to minimise visual impact. The majority of the site is well screened by existing belts of established trees and hedgerows and additional planting will provide further cover and enhance the area’s biodiversity.

The land that the solar farm will occupy is classified as Grade 3B - which is not deemed to be the best and most versatile land - and the current farmer has agreed to resume sheep grazing around the solar arrays once the plant is operational, removing fears of an impact on food production

Councillor Patricia Jopling said: “I do sometimes question solar farms but having looked at this one and where it is…I don’t honestly think, when you look right across the landscape, that its going to make a huge difference.”

Alan Connolly, development director with Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our Bluestone Solar Farm project. An area of land that was once used to extract fossil fuels that powered our industrial past, will now be utilised to produce significant and sustainable clean energy for the future.

“We have undertaken extensive consultation with the local community and Durham ward councillors for over two years and the proposals have been well received. Equally, where suggestions have been made, we have listened - including taking the decision to replace some solar panels with additional biodiversity enhancement areas, to help local flora and fauna to thrive.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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