Third Revolution Projects worked with RE Projects Development to secure planning permission via planning committee for a 55-hectare solar farm located in Tamworth Borough in October of 2023. The proposed development is located on the edge of Tamworth and is expected to export 30MW of solar power – enough to power 11,500 homes.

TRP worked with ecologists to ensure that the nearby Alvecote Pools SSSI would remain unaffected by the development. The designation is a haven for wild birds and the layout left areas free of development so that the mitigations plan could incorporate additional grassland meadow to provide additional habitats for these and other species.

In addition to addressing the key ecological concerns and opportunities, part of the site was located within the Amington Hall conservation area and required collaboration with a heritage specialist and Historic England to ensure no harm to nearby historic assets. A pair of public rights of way pass through or close to the site, whose amenity needed to be protected. This was achieved through a combination of design, additional planting as well as the retention of significant trees on-site through liaison with a tree specialist and county arboriculturalist.

Although the proposals gained significant public interest, the planning committee recognised the importance of renewable energy projects like this to tackling climate change and noted the steps we had taken to address site constraints.

The team is currently discharging planning conditions.

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