Council approves Harborough district’s biggest solar farm

The installation of 103,000 solar panels at Wistow Lodge Farm off Fleckney Road will power 13,465 properties annually - around 30% of Harborough district’s homes - helping to tackle climate change.

In addition, the solar farm will have a planned lifespan of around 40 years and a maximum capacity of 49.99 megawatts making a substantial contribution to renewable energy generation levels. After 40 years, the site will be decommissioned and returned to its agricultural use.

Landscape enhancements and ecological mitigation such as hedgerow and tree planting and grassland enhancement will also be implemented at the site to minimise any impact of the development.

Additional decisions by the council at the planning committee meeting included the approval for the change of use of a B&B unit to a residential (granny) annexe in Medbourne as well as the approval of a self-build house in Kibworth and conversation of a property into two homes also in Kibworth.

Plans for an indoor soft play area at The Hollybush Inn in Ashby Parva were also approved.

For information about planning applications visit www.harborough.gov.uk/planning