09.03.23-Blythe-Planning

Press release

Novus Renewable Services and Innova Renewables celebrate planning success for Blythe House Farm Solar and Storage Project

9th March 2022

 

Blythe House Farm solar project received planning approval from Staffordshire Moorlands Council on 1st February 2023.

The planning committee voted unanimously in favour to approve the application, which adds another 28MW of solar PV and 30MW of energy storage to the list of consented projects. The project will provide renewable energy from the solar panels to power over 7,000 homes. The energy storage system (ESS) will provide vital energy storage with the ability to store enough power to serve an equivalent number of homes, providing vital reserves of power which can be supplied to the electricity network to balance supply and demand for electricity locally.

Alongside the Novus and Innova teams, representatives from Moorlands Climate Action and neighbours of the site attended the committee hearing, who both spoke in support of the project.

The community consultation process was praised by residents for the extent and quality of public engagement carried out for the project, which included two public exhibitions and extensive engagement with local stakeholders, statutory consultees and community groups.

 

A member of the public submitted the following comment to the Local Planning Authority:

 

“My reasons for support are based on the thoroughness of the application, which clearly sets out both the development and the impact on us as neighbours. More importantly, the proactive, responsible and engaging approach that the team at Novus has taken, to provide both education and explanation of the planning, building and management approach that will be taken to Blythe House Solar Farm. This has meant that any of my concerns and questions were answered in a clear and comprehensive manner”.

 

Richard Turner, Innova Lead Planning Manager said:

 

“We are delighted to have secured planning permission for this grid scale solar and ESS project. The project will make a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable energy targets and help to deliver a cleaner and more sustainable future for all. We are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting development in the infrastructure industry. Novus currently have eight live planning applications awaiting determination and we are working on a number of new solar and energy storage projects which will be submitted into planning throughout the year.”

 

External planning and environmental support was provided by Corylus Planning and Environmental and grid services were provided by Roadnight Taylor.

 

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