By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A solar farm near Radcliffe-on-Trent has been approved after the majority of people asked about the project welcomed the proposal.
The Heron Solar Farm will generate power for nearly 8,000 homes when it is built on land off Stragglethorpe Road, between Radcliffe and Cotgrave.
Plans were submitted by JBM Solar Projects, who are owned by RWE, which claims to be the UK’s largest energy generator.
While some planned solar farms are facing stiff opposition, the majority of Radcliffe and Cotgrave residents who left feedback welcomed the proposal.
More than three-quarters of the 36 people who attended consultation events were in favour, giving an ‘overwhelming positive response’ according the planning documents.
Others have written to Rushcliffe Borough Council in support of the application.
Rob Watling said: “I support this application because it’s a no-brainer”, and hoped it would stop “insane plan to authorise more licences for gas and oil”.
Cotgrave resident Pauline Isabelle said: “This proposed solar farm does not ‘inflict’ itself on the landscape and is not an eyesore.
“It will provide additional habitation for wildlife and have the added benefit of providing electricity for the local area.”
Another local resident said: “I support this application because we need to take responsibility for our own future and deliver clean energy locally and not give it to foreign imported energy.”
Others welcomed the developer’s plan to donate a £264,000 community benefit fund to Cotgrave Town Council to support local initiatives.
No Nottinghamshire County councillors or parish councils made objections.
The plans have been given approval by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
The solar farm will cover 51 hectares – around 70 football pitches – of land that is considered either good or moderate farmland, with another five hectares set aside for infrastructure.
There are already several solar farms on Stragglethorpe Road near Radcliffe, and another two nearby on Main Road to Cotgrave.
Construction is expected to take seven to nine months, and the panels will be decommissioned after 40 years.
