HEATH ROAD
SOLAR FARM
Renewable Connections is investigating the potential for a ground mount utility scale solar farm with capacity up to 21.5MW to the south of Bagworth, Leicestershire (known as the ‘Heath Road Solar Farm’). Once operational, the project would supply enough power for up to 7,581 homes and make a valuable contribution towards tackling the climate emergency in Leicestershire and the wider UK.
As we prepare to submit an application to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Renewable Connections is undertaking consultation to inform local communities of our proposed plans and invite any feedback to shape the submission details.
We are inviting members of the community to provide any comments on the proposal either via the project website, by email or post. A community consultation event will take place on Tuesday 17th June 2025 at the Bagworth Community Centre, Station Rd, Bagworth, Coalville LE67 1BH from 4pm to 7pm. Comments provided by the local community will be taken into consideration and incorporated into the scheme where appropriate for the formal planning application ready for submission later this year.
QUICK FACTS
3,856 tonnes*
of CO2 saved annually
Equivalent annual energy
needs of up to 7,581 homes**
* (Calculated using BEIS’s “all fossil fuels” emissions statistic of 446 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2020)
**(Calculated using the most recent statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,578kWh)
LOCATION
The proposed Heath Road Solar Farm comprises agricultural fields south of Heath Road and adjacent to the north of Merrylees Road. The total area of the site is approximately 29 hectares (‘ha’). It is situated to the south of Bagworth and Thornton, north of Newbold Verdon and Desford and east of Barlestone. The Site is within the administrative area of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (‘HBBC’) and Leicestershire County Council (‘LCC’).
OUR PROPOSALS
If installed, the solar farm will have a capacity of up to 21.5 MWp and will be operational for up to 40 years. After the time, all of the installation will be removed and the land restored to how it was before, but with improved soil health and biodiversity. The power generated will be exported to the grid via a substation connecting to existing powerlines which run through the site boundary.
The solar panels will be installed in rows which run east to west through the site. These rows will be tilted towards the south to capture the maximum amount of solar irradiation possible. The total height of the panels will be no more than 3m above the ground with a gap of more than 0.8m above the ground at its minimum.
Small electric cabins will be located amongst the panels and these will be accessed by a network of crushed stone track which will run through the site. All of the panels will be surrounded by a security fence to protect the equipment from large animals and unauthorised users entering the site. CCTV cameras will be located periodically around the site perimeter for security.
The development will also involve additional landscaping including hedgerow planting and improved biodiversity management. The site is currently pasture and arable land with low ecological value, however with the implementation of a biodiversity management plan the site will be significantly enhanced for biodiversity by creating a range of new habitats, offering food and shelter to wildlife.
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
PROJECT TIMELINE
STAGE 1
Site selection
Summer 2022
STAGE 2
Preliminary Surveys
Summer 2022
STAGE 3
Pre-application
Winter 2022
STAGE 4
Community Consultation
Summer 2025
STAGE 5
Submission
Summer 2025
STAGE 6
Construction
2026
THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT
Following the Government’s declaration of an “Environment and Climate Emergency” in May 2019, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) advised that to meet ‘Net Zero’ targets, the UK will require substantial amounts of new, low carbon power sources to be built before 2050, up to four times that of today’s levels.
HBBC declared their own climate emergency in July 2019 and have a vision to work towards making HBBC being carbon neutral by 2030 (direct council emissions) and to ensure that the borough is net zero by 2050 by considering both production and consumption costs, minimising the environmental impacts of our activities, through our leadership role, influencing and empowering others to take similar actions and ensuring all the council decisions consider the carbon usage and the resulting impact.
Solar is one of the cleanest, lowest cost forms of energy available. The Heath Road Solar Farm would make a meaningful contribution to Leicestershire’s energy needs by delivering green energy to the equivalent of up to 7,581 homes annually. Over the lifetime of the project, it would save an estimated 3,856 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted.
FAQ’s
Why this location?
This site has been identified following extensive site selection across Leicestershire which took into account environmental designations, local electricity network access and capacity, the physical characteristics of the site, and a supportive landowner.
Will there be any impacts on local roads?
For a period of approximately 6 months during construction, there will be deliveries of equipment to site. Renewable Connections will put in place measures to manage impacts of construction traffic and these measures will be included in a Construction Traffic Management Plan that will be submitted with the planning application. There will be infrequent maintenance visits to the site during operation.
Will there be any permanent impact?
Solar farms are temporary and the land will be fully reinstated to farmland once the equipment is removed at the end of the project life. The land is not brownfield land, and is not able to be converted into residential or commercial development following the decommissioning of the site.
Does solar pose a health risk?
No – solar is a passive technology which doesn’t produce any harmful by-products. The BESS facility has integral monitoring and fire suppression with a remote shut-down capability.
How long will the project be there?
The development proposes a life span of up to 40 years from commencement of generation. No later than this, the development would be decommissioned, and the site returned to solely agricultural use. A decommissioning plan will be provided with the planning submission.
Are solar farms and battery farms noisy?
No – solar farms are not noisy, producing no more than normal background levels of sound similar to wind or distant traffic beyond the site boundary. The BESS facility contains a number of measures to mitigate against increased noise levels.
What are the benefits to the local community?
Renewable Connections is committed to maximising benefits for the Local Community. We will establish a Community Benefit Fund and support local good causes. The project will incorporate a range of ecological and wildlife enhancements on site.
GET IN TOUCH
heathroadsolar@renewableconnections.co.uk
0800 254 5011
Heath Road Energy Centre Limited
LDN:W,
3 Noble Street,
London,
EC2V 7EE
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