UK Landfill to be Converted in Solar Panel Farm for 25 Years

A proposal to convert a former landfill in Warrington, UK into a solar farm has been approved by planners.

Biffa Waste Services applied and looked for permission to generate electricity through solar energy at the former Risley landfill site. The site, which is now restored, covers an area of roughly 202 acres, and the proposed solar farm would occupy almost 24 acres.

As part of the proposal, the solar panels would produce around 5 megawatts of electricity at maximum capacity. The site would have an operating period of up to 25 years.

Because the development is in the green belt, it requires approval of councilors. Member’s of Warringtons Borough Council’s development management committee planned to meet back in April to discuss the application. However, the committee delegated authority to planning officers to grant consent for the proposal.

Once the solar farm reaches the end of its life, the panels and associated infrastructure would be removed, and the land returned to its former condition.

The plan states, “Taking into account the temporary nature of the development and the current use of the site and its surroundings, it is considered that the proposal does not have the potential for significant environmental impact.”

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