Plans for a solar farm the size of 150 football pitches in a Leicestershire village on the Rushcliffe border have been given the green light, despite fears that construction will be an issue for villagers.
On Thursday evening (5 February), Charnwood Borough Council’s Plans Committee gave the go-ahead to the 95-hectare Mantle Solar Farm in Wymeswold, which will span three parcels of agricultural land off Narrow Lane.
Once operational, the solar farm is expected to generate up to 49.9 megawatts of electricity – enough to power around 19,800 homes each year and offset approximately 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
The development has a 40-year lifespan, and when that period ends, the land must be returned to agricultural use.
The scheme was submitted in April 2025 by renewable energy developer Exagen, which already operates several solar farms across the UK.
Addressing councillors, the company emphasised the project’s contribution to tackling climate change, improving energy security and helping the borough meet national net-zero targets.
Residents living near the site argued that Wymeswold already has its fair share of renewable energy developments, pointing to nearby solar farms and wind turbines.
Objectors attended the meeting to oppose what they described as an unnecessary fourth scheme in the area.
The most significant concern centred on construction traffic. Council officers estimate that around 2,000 two-way HGV movements will be required during the build, equating to roughly four heavy goods vehicles per day travelling along Narrow Lane for at least six months.
Construction hours will run until 7 pm on weekdays, with work also permitted on Saturday mornings.
Councillor Jenny Bokor, Conservative leader, warned members that the construction period will be “horrendous” for residents.
She said: “Narrow Lane is called Narrow Lane for a reason. Consequently, that lane is just going to be a complete mud path.”
Cllr Bokor proposed a partial road closure to reduce disruption and improve safety during the construction phase, but planning officers rejected the idea, stating there was no legal justification. They confirmed that Leicestershire County Council, acting as the highways authority, had raised no objection to the scheme.
Flooding was also raised as a concern, with fears that the development could worsen existing issues in the village. Officers reassured members that the vast majority of the site lies within Flood Zone 1, the lowest risk category, and that surface water drainage and flood mitigation measures will be introduced through planning conditions.
The approved plans include extensive landscaping, biodiversity enhancements and sheep grazing beneath the solar panels, allowing the land to remain in partial agricultural use during the lifetime of the scheme. Areas of archaeological sensitivity identified on the site will be left undeveloped and managed as grassland.
No objections were raised by statutory bodies, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England, East Midlands Airport, or the county’s highways authority, and the vote to approve was ultimately unanimous.
Exagen has not yet confirmed when construction will begin, but under planning rules, work must start within three years or permission could lapse.
