Work starts on massive solar farm

It will power 14,000 homes for 40 years

Construction of a solar farm the size of around 90 football pitches is  under way in West Devon, despite more than 200 objections, including from two parish councils and a prominent campaigner in the form of actor John Nettles.

The 164-acre solar farm of almost 70,000 panels at Pyworthy, near Holsworthy. is being installed by Ripple Energy, which says it can expected to generate enough electricity to power 14,000 homes for up to 40 years.

The facility was narrowly approved by Torridge District Council's planning committee in 2021. But it has proved controversial, despite being run as a co-operative society - billed as the "UK’s first solar park where members share ownership as well as the energy".

Sixty-eight people living within a 20 mile radius of the development are among almost 10,000 people across the UK that have invested in the project.

Ripple Energy CEO Sarah Merrick says: "This enables people to be part of this amazing energy transition the UK is going through. Not only can they feel really proud that they are making a difference to climate change, they will also get savings off their electricity bills."