Solar farm to generate energy on former colliery site

Harworth Estates, the UK property regeneration company wholly owned by Harworth Group plc, and renewable energy company RES, have secured planning consent for the installation of a 5MW solar farm in Thorne, near Doncaster.

RES plans to install a “solar array” on 30 acres of land on the former Thorne Colliery, following Doncaster Council’s decision to grant planning consent.

The construction of the array, which will be capable of generating enough energy to power over 1,000 family homes, will begin this summer.

RES has also pledged £25,000 towards the Moorends Miners Welfare and Community Development Centre as part of the consent.

This is the second solar farm planning consent secured by Harworth and RES this year.

The first, at the former Arkwright Colliery in Derbyshire, was granted consent in February and will also be built this summer.

Hannah Moxon, assistant management surveyor in Harworth’s natural resources division, said: “I’m delighted that Doncaster Council has recognised the benefits of transforming this former colliery landholding into an asset of lasting value. We have an excellent working relationship with RES and we look forward to working with them to get the scheme operational by the end of this year.”

RES project manager Eliot Davies said: “We have designed a project that will maximise renewable energy generation while minimising impacts on the local environment and local people”.