Proposal for Large Solar Farm Near Leicester Village Submitted

Soars Solar Ltd has submitted a proposal for a solar farm covering 201 acres (81 hectares) at Soars Lodge Farm in Foston, located south of Leicester. This proposed facility would be comparable in size to over 100 football pitches. According to planning documents submitted to Blaby District Council, the proposed development is projected to operate for 40 years. Following this period, the equipment would be dismantled, and the site would be returned to its original farmland state. The farm is designed to have an export capacity of up to 49.8MW, sufficient to supply power to approximately 12,000 homes annually. The applicant proceeded with the submission of these plans subsequent to conducting a series of public consultation events held between July and August of the previous year. These consultations involved distributing leaflets to over 3,000 properties within the Countesthorpe area, given that the proposed site is situated to the east of the village. The consultation process, which featured an in-person exhibition at Countesthorpe Village Hall in August 2023, revealed that some residents expressed concerns regarding the solar farm’s visual effects and potential traffic issues during its construction phase. Additionally, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that other individuals voiced ethical questions concerning the origin of the solar panels. The applicant stated that “35 of the 71 responses” received were “supportive” of the proposed scheme. Documentation further indicates that the fixed solar panels would be oriented southwards, reaching a maximum height of 8.3ft (2.53m) above ground level. Soars Solar Ltd highlighted that the location would maintain its agricultural use throughout the operational period of the solar panels, with sheep grazing in the areas between and surrounding the installations. Nevertheless, two objections have been lodged via the council’s planning portal; however, the council restricts public access to the specific details of these objections.