Cheshire solar farms at the double

Plans to use a combined 150 acres in Lymm and Northwich for ground-mounted solar panels have been approved by Warrington Council and the Planning Inspectorate respectively.

In Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester Council has had its decision to refuse Infinis Solar Developments and Green Earth Developments Group’s plans to remediate the former Wallerscote Limebeds – part of the soda ash works – and create a solar farm off Winnington Avenue overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.

The council had argued that local roads would not be able to cope with an increase in HGV journey’s during the four- or five-year remediation and construction phase.

However, inspector Ben Plenty disagreed. While he acknowledged there would be a significant increase in HGV movements to and from the site, he concluded that this would not pose a risk to safety.

He added that the benefits of the project, including the delivery of “a resolution to the contaminated land that would substantially reduce leaching”, would outweigh the negatives.

Read the full inspector’s full report

Near Wildersmoor Hall Farm in Lymm, Lymm Community Energy had its plans for a 2.5MW solar farm approved by Warrington Council at last week’s planning meeting.

The authority’s planning team said the 13.7-acre scheme would be delivered on what they consider to be Grey Belt, making it acceptable in planning terms.

The application generated 40 objections.