Wildlife trust concern over Toyota solar farm scheme

FEARS RAISED GRASSLAND WOULD BE DESTROYED

- By MADDY BAILLIE

TOYOTA'S plans to build a further, larger solar farm next to its Burnaston headquarters have been opposed by wildlife and biodiversity officials.

The major Japanese car manufacturer submitted its 56-acre solar farm plans to South Derbyshire District Council in August.

But the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the authority's own biodiversity officer have objected to the scheme.

Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council's planning department has lodged its support for the plans, which are set for a greenfield site. It was filed weeks before the authority passed its own cross-party motion to oppose large-scale solar farms on greenfield sites.

The firm says the solar farm would produce 16 megawatts of electricity a year, which it says would be enough to meet 19 per cent of the site's energy needs.