Watch: Work begins on controversial Wrekin solar farm after lengthy planning battle
Work to build a controversial solar farm near Telford's most famous hill is now well under way.
Almost three years after a bitter planning dispute came to an end, construction work has begun on a giant solar farm at the foot of the Wrekin.
Plans to build thousands of solar panels on the 135-acre site between the famous hill and the M54 in Wellington were first submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council back in 2021.
The scheme, off Limekiln Lane, attracted hundreds of objections and was eventually thrown out by the local authority.
But RE Projects Development Ltd and Steeraway Solar appealed the decision with the Government planning inspectorate, which overruled the council and gave the scheme the green light.
Telford & Wrekin Council tried once again to stop the scheme, arguing it would be a "blight" on the landscape, but the High Court denied its right to appeal.
Now, work has officially begun after the site was acquired by UK power producer, Enviromena, last year.
The company claims the site will one day generate enough clean electricity to power more than 15,000 homes each year - avoiding over 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
It's thought that the site will be connected to the grid by late 2026.
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