Former Shropshire RAF base solar farm set to move to next stage

Solar farm operators are ready to start the next stage of their project to switch on a 50MW electricity generating site to a former Shropshire RAF base.

Planning permission was granted in 2023 for the 89.5 hectare (220 acre) site at Osbaston, between Shrewsbury and Newport, and north of Telford.

The site was formerly RAF High Ercall, a Second World War airfield.

It had been noted for being the base of 68 Squadron of night fighters which had a high number of exiled Czechoslovakian airmen.

Now London-based Peridot Solar has asked planners at Telford & Wrekin Council to confirm that it can complete the solar farm in its entirety and start legally using it.

The company has told planners that it intends to make a 'material' start on the site.

When permission was granted the applicant was given until August 21, 2026 to implement it.

The company has told council planners that it has done that and can now complete the work in its entirety.

Planning documents show that work on a new electricity grid substation took place in May this year.

Three years ago planners were told that the development consists of a 49.9MW solar farm with panels up to 3.2 metres tall with internal access roads, perimeter fencing and CCTV.

Planners recorded that seven objections were made to the original plan for the agricultural land that was being used as ranging areas for poultry units.

Objections to the loss of property value and how the development would look were ruled as issues that planning officials could not consider.