Aston Marina will soon be able to generate its own electricity after plans to install hundreds of solar panels were given the thumbs up by councillors.
The move to renewable energy production on-site will help Aston Marina, near Stone, cut its carbon footprint, Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee heard on Tuesday (December 10).
Committee members voted unanimously in favour of the proposals after visiting the area where the 724 solar panels are set to be installed. The ground-mounted panels will cover an area measuring just over an acre, located to the north east of the marina and next to the A51.
Neil Nicholls, who spoke in support of the application at Tuesday’s meeting, said:
“Since forming Aston Marina in 2008, our commitment has been to preserving the beautiful views and quintessential countryside surrounding the development. We are committed to high standards of professionalism, which is evident in the awards we have received.
“Since 2019 pressures have been increasingly challenging, including the Covid crisis, soaring energy prices and the cost of food. We have continued to strive to adapt to this.
“Solar is one way we can invest to improve our carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption and reduce cost of electricity. It has been designed not to be excessive in size; the primary objective is to be a sustainable business, not to profit directly from sale of electricity.
“It will be complemented by an extensive planting scheme of evergreen trees and shrubs to create natural screening. Panels will be angled to reduce height and visibility.”
A report to the planning committee said the development would not result in loss of best and most versatile agricultural land. It would would generate 0.3MW of electricity to be used by Aston Marina.
The report added:
“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.”
There were no objections submitted to the council in response to the application. But it was referred to the borough council’s planning committee for consideration because it is considered a “large scale major development”.
Councillor Bryan Cross said:
“I had concerns about glare, but I notice there are going to be anti-glare type panels and that alleviates that concern. It is making good use of the land and the organisation seems to have taken steps well beyond in respect of ecology.”
Councillor Gareth Jones said: “I think we have a very well-constructed project here that’s very environmentally sound. I’m happy to support it.”
