Huge solar farm to power 8,000 homes could be built

A MAJOR 373-acre solar farm capable of powering more than 18,000 homes could be built close to a Derbyshire village.

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The plans, from BSR Eneray, registered in Somerset, would see the 373-acre scheme built on fields to the east of Brailsford, between Ashbourne and Derby.

It has submitted an early preview of plans for environmental assessment to Derbyshire Dales District Council ahead of a formal application.

The scheme would see dozens of fields between Brailsford and Mercaston, heading towards Wild Park Derbyshire, Mercaston Hall and The Pub in the Woods, converted into a solar farm.

If approved, the scheme would cover an area around five times the size of neighbouring Brailsford, designs show.

Documents filed by the developer show the scheme would be capable of generating 87 megawatts of electricity.

Previous schemes in excess of 50 megawatts were decided by central government instead of by local councils.