Renewable Connections wins planning consent for 15MW Chads Solar Farm in Cheshire

# What happened

# Where and how big The project covers roughly 28 hectares. Solar panels will be arranged in rows running east to west and tilted towards the south to capture the maximum available solar irradiation. Renewable Connections states the farm will generate enough clean electricity to power up to 5,000 homes.

# Environmental design and peatland action A distinctive element of the scheme is the incorporation of a new wetland area intended to improve the condition and long‑term resilience of peatland on the site. The developer also commits to delivering significant biodiversity net gains as part of the project. Those measures are cited as part of the planning submission and were highlighted in the planning process.

# Community engagement and approvals process Renewable Connections says it submitted the application following consultation with the community and statutory consultees. The planning officer's report was positive, and the planning committee gave final approval. The company's chief operating officer, Jonathan Plumb, is quoted thanking the local community and elected members for engagement and saying their feedback shaped the final project design.

# Delivery and partners Renewable Connections will deliver Chads Solar Farm in partnership with European Energy UK. The announcement frames the relationship as part of the route to build and operate the project.

# What this means locally If built as designed, the development will add 15MW of solar capacity in Cheshire, contribute to local renewable generation, and claim biodiversity improvements through wetland creation and peatland resilience work. The developer highlights the projected household equivalence of up to 5,000 homes as a simple measure of annual generation potential.

# Practical next steps to watch for Planning consent clears a key regulatory hurdle. The usual next steps for a project at this stage would include finalising construction planning, securing contractors and grid connection arrangements, and implementing the ecological measures described in the consenting documents. Renewable Connections' partnership with European Energy UK indicates the project will move forward to delivery under that collaboration.

# Bottom line Chads Solar Farm has secured local approval with explicit environmental elements—wetland creation for peatland and biodiversity net gains—built into the design. The 15MW scheme is modest in scale but designed to supply local electricity demand and advance site‑level ecological improvements.