SOLAR FARM THE SIZE OF 60 FOOTBALL PITCHES

A huge solar farm the size of more than 60 football pitches, which would straddle the Welsh border, could be built after plans were submitted.

The 123-acre site would be built on land at Bretton Hall, Chester Road, Flintshire, which lies at a cross border location between England and Wales.

YnNi Newydd Cyfyngedig is applying to Welsh Ministers and Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWAC) for the construction and operation of the proposed 30MW solar farm development.

Due to the scale of the scheme, it constitutes a “Development of National Significance’ requiring consent from Welsh ministers.

The proposed development would be temporary, with an operational phase of 40 years, after which the application site would be returned to its current condition as required.

The agricultural land within the application site is divided into six medium-sized fields between 10 acres and 25 acres, and two smaller fields of between five acres and 10 acres.

The scheme comprises a community energy project being developed by YnNi Newydd Cyfyngedig (New Energy), a community benefit society. It was specifically established for the purpose of developing and operating the project as a community-owned renewable energy plant.

The application added: “The aim of the proposed development is to generate a source of clean, renewable energy to mitigate climate change, strengthen local energy resilience and to provide tangible benefits to the local community.”