Staveley Solar Farm is a new solar energy project being developed by Bluestone Energy, in conjunction with Anglian Water who are a local water supplier.
Approximately 10-15% of power from the Staveley Solar Farm would be utilised at the Wing Water Treatment Works via a ‘direct wire’ and around 75-80% of the power would be used by Anglian Water to decarbonise operations across their wider estate. The remaining energy generated would be exported to the National Grid.
If Staveley Solar Farm is granted consent, it would help to provide clean, sustainable energy to Rutland’s water supply and contribute to local and national net zero targets.
The solar farm has been designed to allow existing sheep grazing to continue and is an element of farm diversification that will support food production on the wider farmstead in the long term.
We have now submitted a formal planning application to Rutland County Council. If you wish to comment on Staveley Solar Farm’s planning application, a link can be found HERE.
Bluestone Energy is a renewable technology developer, committed to supporting the global target of net zero carbon and creating a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world for future generations.
Together, we are working with Anglian Water to help achieve their ambitious target of 45% renewable energy generation by 2025 to become a net zero organisation by 2030. Incorporating renewable energy sources such as Staveley Solar Farm is needed to meet this and bring Rutland one step closer to reaching net zero. Reducing reliance on the National Grid also gives Anglian Water more control over operational costs.
The Site is located on land to the south of Pilton Village, Luffenham Lane, Pilton, in Rutland, and comprises approximately 80 hectares (ha) of a 1,380ha landholding, historically used for ironstone quarrying operations.
The following map above shows the design that has been submitted to Rutland County Council as part of our planning application .
The feedback we received during our public consultation in 2023 has helped shape the plans that we’ve now submitted to Rutland County Council in our planning application. This design also reflects pre-application advice we have received from Rutland County Council as the Local Planning Authority on planning policy which we are required to adhere to.
The feedback received during our public consultation, and how this has been taken into account within our final designs, is summarised in our Statement of Community Involvement and You Said, We Did document, which will be available following submission.
The image below shows an aerial viewpoint of the site, including the cable route connecting to Wing Water Treatment works.
We have listened to your feedback on our proposed community benefit fund and have increased our monetary offering. If you would like to find out more information or wish to submit ideas, this can be found on our Community Benefit page.
The images below show viewpoints of the site from different locations, showing how they will look during the 1st and 15th year during operation. These viewpoints have been set-up to represent an open view across the site during winter and therefore a ‘worst case’.
1. Viewpoint 4 – Bridleway E279 west of North Luffenham Road.
2. Viewpoint 5 – North Luffenham Road, near residential properties, looking northwest.
3. Viewpoint 6 – Public Right of Way (PRoW) near the western edge of Morcott, looking northwest to northeast.
4. Viewpoint 7 – The central part of the Public Right of Way (PRoW) between Wing Road in the east and the A47 Morcott Road in the southwest, looking northwest to northeast.
The map below shows where there are Special Protection Areas in nearby proximity to the proposed site.
Members of the public now have the opportunity to comment on our planning application on Rutland County Council’s website HERE.
The outcome of the planning application will be determined following the consultation period and will either be decided as a delegated decision or at a meeting of the Planning and Licensing Committee. We will be sharing further information about this on our project website when details are confirmed.