Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need solar farms?Solar farms contribute to Net Zero carbon emission targets, enable more energy to be generated domestically improving security of supply, and are the cheapest form of new electricity generation1, alongside other renewable technologies. This makes solar farms, like Leaford, not just good for the environment but also for the consumer.
Why have you chosen this site?
The site has been chosen as it has good solar irradiation levels, lies outside of any statutory environmental, archaeological and landscape designations with a viable grid connection.
How much electricity would the solar farm produce?
Leaford Solar Farm would be capable of generating up to 30MW of clean, low-cost electricity. That's enough to power around 8000 homes2.
What stage is the project at?
A planning application was submitted to Stafford Borough Council in February 2024.
Feedback from the local community and stakeholders helped to shape the final solar farm design and a number of design changes were made from the preliminary design. These changes included:
- A reduction in the size of the site by nearly 40 acres from c. 208 acres to c. 170 acres.
- Removal of solar infrastructure from the fields to the southwest and southeast, reducing potential visibility from Fulford village and from Saverley Green Road.
- Additional planting on the western boundary to reduce potential visibility.
- A minimum setback of 7.5m from the Public Rights of Way (a larger setback has been achieved in some areas).
- Repositioning of the site entrance to prevent any tree loss.
All of the planning documents can be found on our website here and can also be viewed on Stafford Borough Council’s website at https://www12.staffordbc.gov.uk/online-applications/. The case reference number is 24/38719/FUL and should be included in all correspondence.
In February 2025, RES submitted a Planning Addendum to address the comments raised by the Local Planning Authority and statutory consultees. The Planning Addendum also discusses the latest updates with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the newly published Clean Power 2030 – Action Plan both of which are material considerations in respect of determining the planning application.
Within the Planning Addendum, further landscape measures are proposed including tree planting along the hedgerow forming the western boundary and heavy standard trees in the northwest corner of the northern-most field alongside planting a native species hedgerow within this field, along the line of the hedgerow depicted in historic mapping. An updated Landscape and Ecological Management Plan showing these additions can be found here.
Other minor design changes are also proposed including the removal of some solar infrastructure away from existing trees and to accommodate reinstatement of the above mentioned historic field boundary in the northernmost field. The AC-AC storage compound has been removed from the proposal and solar infrastructure removed to allow a further setback of around 37m from the Public Right of Way (PRoW) to the southeast of the site.
Demonstrating our commitment to protecting the amenity value of the PRoW on site, the Planning Addendum also includes a PRoW Management Plan (PMP). The PMP addresses any potential impact from the solar farm on the 2 PRoWs crossing the site and how the PRoWs would be managed to help ensure they remain safe to use and disruption to users is minimised throughout all phases of the project, including the construction phase. This document enables a summary of all elements of the proposals associated with the PRoWs to be found in one single location.
The full Planning Addendum can be found here.
What benefits will the project deliver?
As we transition to a net-zero future, reducing the impacts of climate change both locally and globally, RES' priority is to deliver clean, green electricity at the lowest cost for consumers. Analysis on electricity generation costs published by DESNZ shows that large-scale solar, alongside other renewable technologies, are now the cheapest forms of electricity generation. This makes developments like Leaford Solar Farm not just good for the environment but also for the consumer.
Leaford Solar Farm has the potential to deliver a biodiversity net gain of 74% in habitat units and 22% in hedgerow units, through the measures proposed in the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan which accompanies the planning application. These measures include new blocks of woodland, extensive planting of native hedgerow trees and flower rich grassland areas.. A typical solar farm uses around just 5% of the total site area with the rest of the land remaining undisturbed, creating significant opportunities to provide a range of ecological benefits.
RES is committed to ensuring that, wherever possible, local contractors and employees are used in all aspects of solar farm development. The major opportunities arise during the construction phase when suitably qualified local firms are often invited to bid for different aspects of construction. We encourage our contractors to source construction materials locally (i.e. within the county) and to use local transport and plant hire companies where possible, in addition to local services and amenities.
We continue to consult on meaningful local benefits which could be delivered by the solar farm, if it is consented. From feedback received to date from the local community and stakeholders, a road safety initiative would be one such initiative which could be delivered. We look forward to continuing further discussion regarding this and also welcome feedback on other suggestions and ideas.
Would construction of the solar farm generate lots of traffic?
If the solar farm is consented, during the construction period, there will be short periods where there will be peak traffic flow for equipment delivery. During the construction period, we estimate there will be an average daily maximum of 10 HGV vehicles (20 movements). Much of the time, traffic will be limited to personnel getting to and from site.
We have consulted with the Highways department, the emergency services, the local community and other relevant bodies to produce a Transport Statement (TP) to support any planning application. The TP outlines the overall framework for managing the safe movement of construction and delivery traffic as well as itemising the expected number of traffic movements and timing restrictions.
The traffic movements will be limited to avoid morning and evening peak times, where possible. There will also be a dedicated Community Liaison Officer to engage with local residents throughout the construction and operational phases.
Do solar farms pose a risk to food security?
Solar farms do not pose a threat to food security.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), climate change could reduce the UK’s stock of high-grade agricultural land by nearly three-quarters by 20503.
Leaford Solar Farm will help towards tackling climate change and furthermore, is specifically designed to be dual purpose, enabling continued agricultural use, in the form of sheep grazing, and renewable generation.
Around 95% of the land has been classified as not being Best and Most Versatile.
Shouldn't solar be put onto roofs?
Rooftop solar has a crucial part to play but alone cannot provide the solar capacity to meet net zero targets.
To deploy at least 40GW Solar Energy UK estimate that around 37% (15GW) of this could be provided by residential and commercial rooftop solar, with the remaining 63% (25GW) coming from large scale ground mounted solar farms.
How tall will the solar panels be?
The lowest point of the solar panels is approximately 0.8m above ground, designed to allow sheep to graze underneath the arrays, and the maximum total structure height will be approximately 3.5m.
Will the solar farm be very visible?
The site for the Leaford Solar Farm already benefits from existing trees and hedgerow minimising potential visibility. We have also proposed infill and new planting which, as well as further reducing potential visibility, would provide wildlife corridors and vital resources for mammals, birds, and insect species.
Through the iterative design process, we have removed solar infrastructure from the fields to the southwest and southeast, and have proposed additional planting on the western boundary to further reduce potential visibility.
A Landscape and Ecology Management Plan can be found here which shows the location of proposed new native species hedgerow and other measures proposed to reduce potential visibility and provide a biodiversity net gain.
Will the solar farm impact ecology on site?
The site of the proposed Leaford Solar Farm lies outside of any ecological designations and a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal is being undertaken to ensure any potential impact on the local ecology is properly assessed.
The design of the solar farm will include measures to prevent potential impacts such as a 5m buffer from all hedgerow and drainage ditches and a 10m buffer from all woodland.
Perimeter fencing for the solar farm would be in the form of deer fencing, with mammal gates to allow the free movement of small mammals.
The Leaford Solar Farm proposal would deliver a biodiversity net gain for the site through a range of measures including native planting, wildflower areas and the installation of bird and bat boxes.
Will the solar farm affect the footpaths which cross the site?
RES understands the importance of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) to the local community.
The design of the solar farm includes a minimum setback of 7.5m applied from all PRoW, with larger setback distances achieved in some areas.
Landscape planting has also been proposed to protect the amenity value of existing PRoW both on and near to the site.
All inverters and potential energy storage units have been positioned specifically away from ProW to further protect the ProW amenity value.
Demonstrating our commitment to protecting the amenity value of the PRoW on site, the Planning Addendum, submitted in February 2025, also includes a PRoW Management Plan (PMP). The PMP addresses any potential impact from the solar farm on the 2 PRoWs crossing the site and how the PRoWs would be managed to help ensure they remain safe to use and disruption to users is minimised throughout all phases of the project, including the construction phase. This document enables a summary of all elements of the proposals associated with the PRoWs to be found in one single location.
The PMP and appendices can be viewed at https://leaford-solarfarm.co.uk/planning-application/.
Would Leaford Solar Farm affect Green Belt land?
There will be no long-term loss or reclassification of Green Belt land as a result of the development which is temporary in nature, and the site can be returned to agricultural use at the end of the solar project.
Where a solar farm is installed on land which has been intensively farmed, it enables the ground underneath to recover, while providing income for the farming business. Solar farms help regenerate soil quality and can help to ensure the continued availability of high-quality agricultural acreage for future generations.
A Green Belt Assessment has been undertaken and accompanies the planning application.
What is energy storage?
The way in which we use, and generate, electricity is changing. Our electricity system is in a transitionary period to manage the increasingly complex supply and demand needs of the 21st Century, and battery energy storage systems provide an important role in this.
Battery energy storage technology supports the variable generation of renewable energy technologies by playing an important balancing and grid stability role. Battery energy storage helps support the network operator by storing energy at times when generation exceeds demand and releasing electricity back to the grid network when demand exceeds generation.
Increasing battery energy storage installed capacity will be vital to support England’s net-zero emissions target and help to deliver a reliable, resilient, decarbonised electricity system for the future.
What happens next?
Stafford Borough Council are currently consulting on the Planning Addendum to enable the public, as well as statutory consultees, to submit their comments These comments will then be assessed against the proposal and a determination made in due course.
1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6556027d046ed400148b99fe/electricity-generation-costs-2023.pdf
2 The homes equivalent figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation of the site (based on RES assessments Leaford has a predicted capacity factor of 11.2% and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that the annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,509 kWh (December 2022).
3 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme-2-uk-food-supply-sources#united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme2-indicator-2-1-15