Creswell: Solar panel farm given green light by Bolsover Council

Bolsover District Council granted planning permission for the solar farm to be created on an area of old colliery land last week.

The area, near Frithwood Lane, Elmton, is about 11.8 hectares and is reclaimed land which was previously a colliery spoil heap and used for grazing sheep.

The planning permission allows for the solar farm to operate for an initial 25-year period.

Work on the development is due to start in January.

Developer Charles Houston said: “Not many communities can boast schemes like this.”

“We are pleased not to have received any objections to this exciting project and thank the district council for granting it planning permission.”

Mr Houston added that a number of part-time jobs will be created thanks to the scheme.

About one-third of the land will be taken up with the solar panels, with the rest remaining in agricultural use.

The development will export about five megawatts, saving more than 2.7 million kilogrammes in CO2 emissions every year, with all the power being exported to the local grid for use in the community.

A district council spokesman said: “The developer has also undertaken a detailed biodiversity plan to mitigate the impacts the development will have on the wildlife and landscape.”

Meanwhile, renewable energy firm RES is seeking planning permission from Chesterfield Borough Council to build about 27,500 solar panels on 30 acres of land at Tom Lane, Duckmanton. The solar farm could generate power for 1,000 homes every year. Chesterfield Borough Council is expected to make a decision on RES’s plans next month.