PROPOSALS to establish a solar farm on the site of a former landfill site have been given the green light by planners.

Applicant Biffa Waste Services sought permission to generate electricity through solar energy at the former Risley landfill site.

The now-restored site, off Silver Lane close to the M62, covers an area of approximately 82 hectares, with the proposed solar farm covering 9.6 hectares.

It is proposed that panels would produce up to around 5 megawatts of electricity at maximum capacity, with the site having an operational period of up to 25 years.

Members of Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee were due to meet in April to discuss the application.

This is because the development is in the green belt, it needs the approval of councillors.

But the committee resolved to delegate authority to planning officers to grant consent to the proposal, subject to the secretary of state not wishing the intervene.

This was confirmed in a letter from the secretary of state, which said the office was ‘content that it should be determined by the local planning authority’.

This permission has now been granted this month.

Biffa says the temporary development would take around three months to construct, including ground preparation, installation of security features and erection of the solar panels.

Security measures include a 2metre high fence around the site perimeter and CCTV coverage.

Once installed, the solar farm would only require minimal periodic monitoring and maintenance, with the use of the land being ‘entirely reversible’.

At the end of the solar farm’s lifespan, the solar panels and associated infrastructure would be removed from the site and the land returned to its former condition.

No members of the public or councillors commented on the plans.

Plans state: “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.”

A report to committee members concluded: “The proposal would be inappropriate development in green belt.

“But it is considered that that other considerations clearly outweigh the harm to green belt in this case.

“Compelling, very special circumstances exist which justify approval of the proposed development.”