Renewable energy developer RES is applying for planning permission from Stafford Borough Council for a 30MW solar PV farm.
If approved and developed, the project will operate for 40 years and feature energy storage to “increase the flexibility and generation capabilities of the site,” RES said.
Located on land between Stallington and Saverly Green, the Leford Solar Farm aims to increase biodiversity by 74%. This will be achieved by planting flower meadows and native trees, more than 2km of new hedges, and installing hedgehog houses, bee banks and birdhouses. These efforts will create vital resources for wildlife.
Claire Chamberlain, development project manager for RES, said: “With the recent State of Nature Report confirming a 19% decline in average species diversity in Britain since 1970, we need to start prioritizing biodiversity – and solar farms are a great way to do this. to do. .
“Projects like Leford Solar Farm not only provide a significant boost to biodiversity, but are also sustainable in other ways. The low intensity regime of a solar park ensures that soil quality has the opportunity to regenerate, ensuring the continued availability of high-quality agricultural land for future generations.”
Solar parks have been shown to have a positive impact on biodiversity. A recent report from Solar Energy UK declared solar farms “biodiversity havens” and noted that they play an “important role” in nature recovery. Vulnerable species, including yellowhammers, starlings and brown hares, thrive on solar farms.
