A council wants to create a huge solar farm and industrial park next to the A6.
Leicestershire County Council, has drawn up plans for a £14 million development on farmland it owns near Loughborough, in the north of the county.
The proposed solar farm, off Barrow Road in the pretty village of Quorn, would cover 62 acres and generate enough electricity to power around 3,000 homes.
The environmental impact of industrial buildings also included in the planning application would be offset by the green energy created.
The carbon-neutral industrial site would feature nine high-spec industrial units and could include solar roof panels, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle charging.
It is hoped to lease them out to generate income to help the council deal with a financial situation that was challenging before the coronavirus pandemic and has now been described as dire.
Cabinet member for finance and resources Coun Byron Rhodes said: “We are a green council and tackling climate change is one of our top priorities.
“We take our commitments to reduce carbon very seriously and, if approved, this solar farm would produce clean, green energy, while building new units would offer local businesses the chance to get their foot on the ladder or expand.
“Investing in property is a priority for the council as it means we can also generate income to plough back into services, helping to meet ever-increasing demands.”
The council will fund the scheme using one-off pots of money, including income from property sales and investment.
It says it would generate more than £830,000 a year, which would benefit services from social care to highway maintenance.
The planning application has been submitted to the county council’s own planning committee.
