Published: 12 Mar 2021, 16:02
A 50MW solar and battery storage scheme being developed by JBM Solar Projects has received planning permission.
Located on land adjacent to Roden Lane, Roden near Telford, the asset is to take around 26 weeks to construct and have a lifespan of 40 years.
Benefits of the solar farm presented to Telford & Wrekin Council included the 70-80 jobs that would be created during construction, the 72,000MWh supplied per year, the annual business rates contribution of around £190,000 pa for 40 years, with this being c.£7.6 million in total, and the planned planting of wildflower grass, hedgerows and installation of bat and bird boxes.
Indeed, the solar farm is to present “considerable opportunity for landscape and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement” according to the Pegasus Group, which secured the planning permission on behalf of JBM.
Chris Cox from Pegasus said the development will provide a “a significant amount of renewable energy to support legally binding national targets to reduce carbon emissions”.
This follows on from JBM announcing it was to build a 50MW solar farm with battery storage at a site near Swindon in August 2020, with that site to retain the agricultural use of the land in the long term, being capable of dual use farming during its operational period. The Swindon site also has a community benefit, with a commitment to the local parish council to help fund infrastructure in the area.