Villagers hope to turbocharge plans for a solar farm

RESIDENTS of a Northumberland village hope to accelerate ambitions to become the county’s first Net Zero community by installing a solar farm.

- DANIEL HALL

Villagers in Humshaugh have secured planning permission for the farm on a field just outside the village which is unsuitable for farming.

They have already secured more than £100,000 which is going into a community interest company (CIC).

However, the solar farm requires more than six times that amount of investment.

Residents say the solar farm is crucial to the hopes of providing sustainable renewable energy for Humshaugh, a village known for its supercar-loving pub.

Residents have taken expert advice and support from consultants from Cooperatives UK, with hopes that it will “turbocharge” the drive to eventually eliminate the village’s carbon footprint.

Michael Beaven, director of Our Community Enterprise (OCE), said: “Cooperative UK delivers a Booster Fund which offers development grants and equity investment and we work with groups that are fundraising.