A vast solar farm in the Northumberland countryside that could provide green energy for thousands of homes has been granted planning permission.
The site consists of ten fields and 195 acres, equivalent to around 130 football pitches. Once complete, the solar panels will produce 49.9 megawatts of clean electricity - enough power for up to 13,000 homes.
Applicant Bluefield Renewable Energy Developments has already received planning permission for two solar farms in south east Northumberland last year, with each set to power around 15,000 homes. The land, south of Broadway House Farm on Church Lane in Bedlington, is currently used to produce animal feed in the form of haylage, and was previously used for opencast coal extraction in the 1950s and 60s.
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When the solar farm is constructed, sheep will be grazed on the land. Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's Strategic Planning Committee, Adam Hogg of West Bedlington Town Council said he and his colleagues supported the plans.
Coun Hogg said: "The developer has discussed this application with the town council over a number of meetings and listened to the concerns of us and the residents. The council support the environmental gain and increased biodiversity through tree planting.
"This application also provides much-needed reductions in the town's overall carbon footprint. We ask the committee to support the application."
The applicant's managing director, Jonathan Selwyn told members the site was "well screened" and that there were no public rights of way. He also said there had only been two objections from members of the public, and none from statutory consultees.
Coun Barry Flux said: "It would seem to me to be the ideal place for this. This is far less intrusive than other forms of renewable energy. I wholeheartedly support this application."
Chairman Coun Trevor Thorne added: "It is more renewable energy that we're delivering in Northumberland. It is a very well screened site.
"With these applications, we're often looking at the damage that they do to people living close by. I think that damage has been kept to a minimum in this application. The applicant does seem to have done their homework."
The plans were unanimously approved by the committee. Once built, the solar panels will have a lifespan of forty years.
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