Plans to build what would be a 120-acre community-owned solar farm have received unanimous backing from councillors.
New Energy Wales is seeking to build a 30MW wind farm which will spread across the England to Wales border on the outskirts of Chester on agricultural land. It should be able to produce enough power for 8,400 homes. As a community-owned asset, the shares will be sold to local people and organisations. Any surplus revenue will then be used to fund community benefit projects.
The unanimous backing has come from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee. Because the project will be in both Wales and England, two separate planning applications have had to be submitted. Furthermore, in Wales, the project is classed as a Development of National Significance. This means that the Welsh Planning Inspectorate will be tasked with judging it, with Flintshire County Council offering input too.
Should all proceed as planned, the project will commence construction next summer.
