Development plans for the Welsh Way Solar Farm
Development plans for the Welsh Way Solar Farm. Image: Innova.

Solar and energy storage developer Innova has gained planning permission for a new solar project in Gloucestershire.

The 13MWp Welsh Way Solar Farm, located near Fairford, was granted permission by Cotswold District Council for a 40-year operational lifespan. Although an estimated start date for construction on the 19.8 hectare site has not been announced, Innova forecasts that the site will become operational in 2026.

According to Innova, the completed development will deliver a 115.09% biodiversity net gain for the area, achieved through the planting of wildflowers and other measures. Sheep grazing will be able to continue onsite after construction, as the panels will be mounted 3 metres off the ground to enable grazing underneath.

William Griffiths, project manager at Innova, said: “We are thrilled to announce that Welsh Way Solar Farm has received planning permission from Cotswold District Council. We are grateful to Cotswold District Council and their statutory consultees for their proactive engagement throughout the pre application and planning determination phases of the project. We look forward to the next stages of the project leading up to the project’s construction and operation.” 

Innova’s solar ambitions

The announcement comes just weeks after Innova announced it had signed a 15-year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) for the 27.8MW Elms Farm solar development, which it owns under its ISG Renewables joint venture (JV) with investment firm Schroders Greencoat. The deal will see the entirety of the solar power plant’s output supplied to Anglican Water when the site is energised later this year.

Under this same ISG Renewables JV, Innova acquired a 28.7MWp solar development located in Warwickshire. Acquired in May of this year, the Newbold Pacey Solar Farm is also set to energise later in 2024.

Meanwhile in Staffordshire, Innova received planning permission to expand the capacity of its consented Blythe Solar Farm, a co-located solar power plant and battery energy storage system (BESS), in September of this year. The approved extension plans will see 16.6MW of solar capacity added to the site plans, bringing the total site capacity to 44.3MWp of solar capacity and a 30MW BESS. The site is on track to be energised in 2027.

Innova currently has over 60 distribution network operator- and grid-connected projects in development across the UK, with a total solar and storage capacity of around 24GW.