A Gedling solar farm will now be allowed to operate until 2055—15 years longer than originally planned.
Sustainability company Foresight Group applied to Gedling Borough Council in December 2024 to retain the Arnold Lane solar farm for 40 years rather than 25 years.
The site forms part of the former Gedling Colliery and is surrounded by Gedling Country Park.
About 1,700 homes are powered by the site using electricity generated by more than 20,000 panels.
The farm began operating in 2015 after original permission was granted in 2014, but a condition of the application meant it was only due to run for 25 years before being dismantled.
This meant it was due to stop operating in 2040, at which point all equipment would have been removed from the site, allowing the land to return to its original condition.
Proposals to amend the condition and extend the solar farm’s operation to 40 years, meaning until 2055, were approved by the council’s planning committee yesterday (12th February).
Claire Turton, Principal Planning Officer at the council, said the amendment is justified as a “result of market changes and technological advancements which allow solar farms to be maintained for longer periods.”
According to the applicant, the solar panels are capable of generating electricity for longer than 25 years.
As part of the original planning approval in 2014, an annual £1,000 contribution to enhance biodiversity was also promised.
This has been used by the Gedling Conservation Trust to maintain habitats at the Netherfield Lagoons Local Nature Reserve.
The applicant has agreed to continue this for the full 40 years of the solar farm’s operation.
Councillor Rachael Ellis (Lab) said: “It’s good news when something that already exists can continue to be used longer than the originally predicted lifespan, so I would certainly welcome that.
“There may be no leeway in this, but £1,000 per annum in 2014 [for the conservation trust] is worth considerably more than £1,000 40 years later—I do wonder whether there is any leeway in negotiating some kind of increase?”
Claire Turton replied: “It was something the Gedling Conservation Trust also asked for, but unfortunately, the original [contribution agreement] wasn’t index-linked—I think our hands are tied in asking for any more [money].”
Index-linked means a financial payment is linked to rising inflation.
Cllr Sam Smith (Con) responded to this by asking, “Can the committee have reassurance that if there are future applications like this, they will be index-linked?”
Ms Turton replied that it is usual practice for legal agreements to be index-linked.
Also approved in the same meeting was a separate application for a 32-bed residential centre that offers therapy and holistic treatment to those dealing with addiction and mental health issues.
Existing buildings that used to be occupied by Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Authority in Bestwood Lodge Drive, Bestwood, will be demolished for the new centre to be built.
Guests at the centre self-refer and will have access to 24-hour nursing care and holistic therapy.
The building will have single and group therapy rooms, dining and social spaces, 52 parking spaces, bicycle storage, and will be accessed from Bestwood Lodge Drive.
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