Green light tipped for timber merchant’s solar farm

Plans to create a solar farm in Northumberland, which will enable a family-owned sawmill and timber merchant to generate electricity on-site, safeguarding hundreds of jobs, look set to progress.A&J Scott wants to erect the 2.5MW ground mounted solar farm on a 11.3-acre parcel of land to the North East of Wooperton Station, adjacent to its existing Station Sawmill.Permission is being sought for a temporary period of 40 years from the date of first expiration of electricity from the site.The company, which directly employs more than 180 people, supporting a further 100 in the supply chain, was established in 1960 and supplies softwood timber for a variety of uses, including in outdoor and garden products, fencing, landscaping and DIY.The proposed development will allow the business to generate its own electricity from a renewable source, reducing its dependency on the national grid and fossil fuel-based sources.A planning statement submitted alongside the application noted that the lower reliance on the national grid is a “critical driver” of the scheme, as energy bills continue to remain at historically high levels.It added: “The urgent need for the proposed development in reducing the significant energy bill costs for the Station Sawmill business has been set out, and the importance of this in protecting the business and the c. 280 direct and indirect jobs it supports.”All of the power generated at the site will be used by the sawmill, and no power is expected to be exported to the grid.A report which will go before Northumberland Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 3 October concluded that the project will “ensure the viability of the sawmill business”.The application will go before committee with the recommendation for approval.