Plans for two new solar farm sites in the Barrow area have been given the green light.
The planning applications were approved by a meeting of Cumbria County Council’s development control and regulation committee on Tuesday.
The first application, on land at Sandscale Park, on the edge of Barrow, will see 2MW, ground-mounted solar array set up on around 60,000 sq metres of wet meadow.
A substation is also to be installed as part of the scheme.
The second application was for 30,000 sq metres of remediated, gravelled land off Dova Way, Barrow Island for a 2MW, ground-mounted solar array. Associated infrastructure, including two substations, is also to be installed.
The applicant in each case was the county council.
The council said the sites were expected to result in savings of around 1,184 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.
“[This] would provide enough electricity to power approximately 1,360 homes per year, based upon an average UK electricity consumption of 3,482 kWh per household,” said a spokesman.
“In light of rising global energy prices, the development of these sites will also help boost the council’s energy sovereignty, independence and security.”
The spokesman said the developments included ‘biodiversity enhancement plans’ such as ‘increasing opportunities for pollinators’ and retention of bird nesting habitat.
Councillor Celia Tibble, cabinet member for environment, said the county council had set itself ambitious targets to significantly reduce our own carbon footprint.
“These solar farm sites will go some way to helping us realise this,” she said.
Coun David Southward, cabinet member for economic development and property, said: “This is welcome news and an example of us using our assets in an innovative way to meet a serious challenge.
“The rise in energy costs is affecting us all and, by creating these sites, we’ll be able to generate our own energy and ensure security for the future, which can only be a positive thing.”
