Countryside near Shropshire village targeted for major 58-hectare solar farm

Greenvolt Power, the firm behind the scheme, is understood to have written to a number of households in the Lilleshall area revealing details of its plans.

The firm says the plan would see a 30MW solar farm created on land to the east of Lilleshall, off Willmoor lane.

The site would cover around 58 hectares.

For comparison the Steeraway Solar Farm, currently under construction at the foot of the Wrekin, covers around 90 hectares.

Greenvolt’s own website said it expects to submit an application for the Lilleshall proposal this summer - and expects a decision by November.

It stated: “Greenvolt Power are preparing to submit a planning application to Telford & Wrekin Council for a proposed solar farm in Lilleshall.

“The proposed development will contribute to energy security through the provision of local, renewable energy supply. This is enough to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 11,000 homes.

“It will also deliver a comprehensive scheme of landscape and ecological enhancements and contribute to biodiversity net gain in the local area.”

The firm said the development would be able to generate around 30MW of electricity - the same as the Steeraway site.

It said: “The project is located on land to the west off Willmoor Lane in Lilleshall. Occupying approximately 58 hectares, the solar farm would have an approximate generating capacity of 30MW.

“The temporary nature of the development will allow the agricultural land to regenerate during the period of operation, and the land use will be reversed back to agriculture at the end of the project life.”

The website said the site would take about six months to build, with two to 16 lorries a week, and that access would be created off Willmoor Lane.

It stated: “An existing agricultural access track off Willmoor Lane will be upgraded to form the site entrance, as well as internal site access tracks.

“The construction phase will be carefully managed through a Construction Traffic Management Plan, and will last approximately six months.

“Construction traffic is anticipated relatively low, two – 16 HGVs per week depending on the stage of construction.

“Traffic management measures will be implemented, such as avoiding peak travel times.”

The firm said the project would have “limited visibility from nearby settlements” and that views would be “mainly restricted to nearby roads and footpaths”.

It added that existing vegetation would provide “natural screening” and that “where necessary, additional planting will be provided to further integrate the development into the landscape”.

It is understood a consultation event is planned for local residents later this month.

Greenvolt has been contacted for comment.