Solar panels set for approval at Aston Marina

The ground-mounted panels are earmarked for land to the north east of Aston Marina, next to the A51, and are intended to generate electricity for the site.

There have been no objections to the 724 proposed panels, which would cover an area measuring just over an acre. But the application has been referred to Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee because it is considered a “large scale major development”.

Councillors are due to visit the site on Tuesday morning (December 10) before making their decision. The application has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

A report to the committee said: “The panels would have a maximum height of 2.5m. The land would be excavated by up to 3m to accommodate the panels and the excavated material would be utilised to regrade the surrounding land, increasing the land height by up to 4m.

“The panel area would be bound by a 2m high mesh fence. The proposed cut and fill exercise and the subsequent sunken siting of the panels would result in the solar panels being largely screened from view from the public realm.

“The submitted Agricultural Land Statement advises that the site has an agricultural land value of grade 4, possible grade 5. As such, the development would not result in the loss of BMVAL (best and most versatile agricultural land) and is acceptable in this regard.

“This small-scale energy scheme would generate 0.3MW of electricity to be used by Aston Marina, which would support the expansion of the use of renewable energy. The construction of the development would also support the local economy.”