Lincolnshire-based PV project developer Lark Energy has secured planning permission from Charnwood Borough Council for a 32MW PV project.
When complete, the company believes the project will be the UK’s largest solar farm.
The £35 million project will be built on the World War II Wymeswold Airfield in Leicestershire, with construction scheduled to begin by the end of November. Currently, the airfield is being used for agricultural and leisure activities. However, these users will not be affected by the project once it is operational.
The project will involve the installation of around 125,000 PV modules positioned on land between the old runways, and will cover approximately 60.7 hectares of land.
Whilst developing its plans for the project, Lark Energy worked closely with the landowners, Charnwood Borough Council, the local parish councils and the local community.
Jonathan Selwyn, Managing Director of Lark Energy, commented: “Lark Energy has played a leading role in demonstrating how large scale renewable energy can be deployed quickly, and with the support of the local community, to help the UK address its carbon reduction and energy security requirements.
“We are delighted that Charnwood Borough Council has granted us planning permission for the project at Wymeswold Airfield and look forward to working with the Council, the landowners and Hazel Capital in realising the delivery of this exciting project. We are committed to developing significant solar assets in the UK and continue to see a bright future for the technology in this country”.
Lark Energy has a strong track record in developing large-scale PV plants on former military airfields. In August the company confirmed that it is planning to build a 30MW solar farm at Ellough airfield in Suffolk, UK. This proposal follows similar plans for a 30MW park at Stradishall Airfield in Suffolk and a 30MW park at Wymesford Airfield in Leicestershire, which were announced in February and June, respectively.