150acre solar farm proposal in County Durham
A proposed new solar farm will support households during the cost-of-living crisis and help a council achieve its climate change goals, a developer has said.
Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd has submitted an application for the solar farm on a former deep and open cast coal mining site in County Durham.
The proposed site at Bluestone Farm could cover 158 acres of land, currently used for sheep grazing, and lies to the north of Cockfield and south east of the village of High Lands.
The applicant says the solar site would generate significant renewable energy, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and help Durham County Council to achieve its ambitious climate change goals, having declared a climate emergency in 2019.
An estimated 13,000 are said to benefit from the potential scheme.
Bluefield has already undertaken extensive consultation, including a public meeting and subsequent public exhibition with nearby residents and site visits with ward councillors.
Following the meetings, a number of potential projects have been identified for a £300,000 community fund allocated for the project, should it gain planning approval.
Bluefield says it has chosen the location carefully to minimise the visual impact of the project, with the majority of the site screened by existing belts of established trees and hedgerows.
If the plans are approved, the current farmer has agreed with Bluefield to resume sheep grazing around the solar arrays, once the plant is operational.
Alan Connolly, development director with Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd, said: “The provision of significant renewable energy would help meet the county’s environmental goals, whilst respecting the area’s rich and historic energy producing heritage. Importantly, the land is not currently used for growing crops for food production and the project would support the continued use of the land for sheep grazing.
“We have had a number of very constructive meetings both with members of the local community and Durham ward councillors and, to date, the feedback has been very positive.
“As the lowest cost, quickest to deploy and most popular of all energy sources, solar is already making an important contribution to addressing both the climate emergency and the cost-of-living crisis.”