Another Solar Farm.. Public Consultation Thur 12 March 2015

Public Consultation for proposed solar farm near Packington, Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Press Release dated 25th February 2015 from Solstice Renewables, who are building the Babelake Street Solar Farm: Local residents, councillors and other members of the community have been invited to a public consultation for a proposed solar farm at land near Park Farm, Willesley Woodside, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LE65 2UN. Solstice Renewables Logow575h104
The consultation will be held on Thursday 12th March from 4 pm to 8 pm at The Packington Memorial Hall, High Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LE65 1WJ and will provide an opportunity for local people and councillors to view the proposals, provide feedback and meet the developers.

The proposed development, by Wiltshire-based Solstice Renewables, is for a 6 Mega Watt peak (MWp) solar park that would generate enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of 1,800 average homes.

Giovanni Maruca, Director, Solstice Renewables, said: “The route for HS2 runs immediately north of the site, reducing the size of the field which is currently farmed as arable land. Solar energy therefore presents a great opportunity to make the best use of this land, which will become more difficult to farm effectively. The land around the panels will be managed to improve its biodiversity and will stay in agricultural use, with sheep grazing in winter and wildflower meadows in summer.

“We’re also hoping to offer the ability for the community to invest directly in the solar farm, and are working with Green Fox Community Energy Cooperative to make this happen. Plus a community benefit fund of approximately £6,000 a year for 25 years – over £150,000 in total – with £2,000 a year funding for educational support linked to the solar farm to nearby schools.

“We’re looking forward to meeting the local community and welcome their suggestions for how the scheme could be improved.”

The site is approximately 12 hectares in area and is adjacent to a Sewage Treatment Works and the A42 junction with Measham Road. It is about 1 km southwest of Packington village.

This is Solstice Renewables’ second solar development in the area. Its first project, a 12.9 MWp solar park near Measham, is currently close to completion and expected to be generating renewable electricity by the Spring.


HS2-route-at-Park-Farm-Packington-with topo

Packington Post includes these two map extracts, courtesy of Google Maps at left and HS2 Company at right, for you to work out where this proposed solar farm will be.  Here’s where they say it will be:

“The route for HS2 runs
immediately north of the 
site, reducing the size
of the field which is 
currently farmed as 
arable land..."