Green light for County Durham solar farm

Plans to create a solar farm on a former coal mining site in County Durham have been backed.Bluefield Renewable Developments will construct the 49.9 Megawatt (MW) solar farm at Bluestone Farm – to the north of Cockfield and south east of the village of High Lands.Once operational, the site will generate enough electricity to power about 13,000 households annually, representing a projected carbon emission reduction of around 8,700 tonnes.The land that the solar farm will occupy is classified as Grade 3B – which is not deemed to be the best and most versatile land – and the current farmer has agreed to resume sheep grazing around the solar arrays once the plant is operational, removing fears of an impact on food production.Alan Connolly, development director with Bluefield Renewable Developments, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our Bluestone Solar Farm project. An area of land that was once used to extract fossil fuels that powered our industrial past, will now be utilised to produce significant and sustainable clean energy for the future.”We have undertaken extensive consultation with the local community and Durham ward councillors for over two years and the proposals have been well received. Equally, where suggestions have been made, we have listened – including taking the decision to replace some solar panels with additional biodiversity enhancement areas, to help local flora and fauna to thrive.”The community fund we are providing will support energy and energy efficiency initiatives at Lands Village Hall and Butterknowle Primary School. We have also agreed to carry out energy surveys and work with the community on a retrofit solar and battery programme for around 60 local houses.”Bluestone will be Bluefield’s first solar farm in County Durham – and fourth in the North East of England – following three successful applications in Bedlington and Blyth in the last twelve months.