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Aura Power has been granted planning permission to build a solar farm on land near Newton in East Staffordshire.
Moreton Brook Solar Farm will be built without subsidy and would generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 11,000 homes, saving around 12,000 tonnes of carbon entering the atmosphere each year. The landscaping proposals would improve the biodiversity levels by 102%.
The UK has a legally binding target to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050 as well as completely decarbonising the UK’s power supplies by 2035 and solar farms like this play a big part in reaching that target.
Solar farms not only increase the supply of clean power but as solar is the lowest cost form of new energy generation will also help to reduce national power prices.
It offers a number of benefits locally with net gains in biodiversity and a community benefit fund of £20,000 a year for the lifetime of the solar farm amounting to £700,000 in total. The fund is offered to support local social, educational and environmental projects.
As a local business, the development will be contributing over £80,000 in business rates to East Staffordshire Council every year as well as providing local green jobs.
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July 2025 - East Staffordshire Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission in March, subject to the completion of a legal agreement, which has now been formally signed. The Decision Notice has since been issued and therefore planning permission has been formally granted.
We will now work to prepare the project for construction, including meeting the pre-commencement conditions on the planning consent.
We will notify the local community well in advance of construction works taking place.
Click here to go to Planning Application
Initial plans presented at public exhibitions to gain feedback from local community.
Planning application submitted.
Worked with East Staffordshire Council's Planning Officer and Statutory Consultees to address comments and bring forward a scheme that could be recommended for approval.
Planning permission formally granted.
Construction is scheduled to commence, working towards a grid connection date of September 2027.
equivalent number of homes powered every year
tonnes of CO2 saved every year
equivalent number of electric cars powered every year
Estimated figure calculated using an average mileage of 9435 miles per year (MOT data from RAC Foundation) and an average power consumption of 2,887 kWh (Electric Vehicle Database 2021)
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Consulting with the local community is very important to us and a crucial part of getting our plans right.
We thank everyone who engaged with us during our consultation period.
We have incorporated the feedback received into our plans by including additional planting for screening along Lea Lane and increasing the setback from the nearest dwelling.
Community engagement is an ongoing process and we welcome anyone to contact us at any time.
chloe.hood@aurapower.com
0117 214 1971
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SITE LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS
•As well as solar panels and associating infrastructure, the proposal will include new planting such as species rich wildflowers, native tree and hedgerows, improved grasses
•Significant gains in biodiversity and improvements to habitats
•Avoids using the most productive agricultural land
•Environmental studies underway including; visual impact, heritage, ecology, highways, noise and hydrology
•Continued agricultural use and food production with sheep grazing
•Community feedback will help shape the design before we submit a planning application.
INCREASING BIODIVERSITY
This proposal includes species rich wildflower meadows, grassland, native trees and hedgerow planting with a predicted Net Gain in Biodiversity of 102%.
Solar farms are proven to have a positive impact on biodiversity and nature recovery as evidenced by a recent study on solar farms in the UK by Solar Energy UK. To view the full report please click here.
WHY HERE?
The increase required in solar power cannot be achieved through rooftop and brownfield sites alone. As a result, ground mounted solar is also needed. This site has been carefully selected due to:
•Well separated from residential areas with potential to plant a significant amount of trees and hedgerows
•No environmental or landscape designations on site
•Opportunity to connect into the electricity grid
•Opportunities to boost biodiversity
CONSTRUCTION & ACCESS
• Indicative route to site from A51 via Colton Road, B5013 and Lea Lane, using major road networks as far as possible
• Peak construction traffic will take place in the first few weeks across a 6-8 month period
• Local residents along the route will be notified in advance
• A Construction and Traffic Management Plan will be prepared and agreed with the Council prior to construction
Your feedback is very important to us. Please leave a comment and one of our project team will get back to you as soon as possible.
30 Queen Square
Penthouse Office
Bristol BS1 4ND
+44 (0) 117 214 1982
Designed by The SourdoughPenthouse Office
30 Queen Square
Bristol BS1 4ND
+44 (0) 117 214 1982