Work on bringing the UK’s largest solar farm to life has begun following land negotiations between solicitors and energy developers.
The partnership between law firm Thrings and rural land agent WebbPaton negotiated the lease of 230 acres in Didcot, Oxfordshire, to developers INRG Solar.
The solar farm, due in April 2014, will provide 41MW of power, which could supply 10,000 homes.
“Renewables are a wonderful diversification for landowners looking to increase the value of their asset and achieve a higher return per acre,” said George Paton, partner at WebbPaton.
“We feel it is very important to consider the long term management and conservation of any site when negotiating the deals and so we ensure that the site is designed so it is not prominent on the landscape and that bonds are written into the contracts to ensure the site is returned to its original use at the end of the lease.”
The Didcot solar farm will continue to be managed as a natural pasture land grazed by sheep to encourage diversity of flora and fauna, the companies assured.
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