Find out more about our solar meadow project at Coach Road in Oswaldtwistle.
PROSPECTS is going solar!
With the support of the Rural Community Energy Fund and consultants Sharenergy we have reached an advanced stage of design with our Coach Road Solar Meadow proposal in Oswaldtwistle.
The panels will generate up to 2 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to the needs of about 550 houses, and will help to reduce carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.
The project will be owned and run by our new community benefit society, PROSPECTS Community Energy Ltd (PCE Ltd), on the 11 acre site which is owned by the Foundation. The existing woodland, pond, hedgerows and grassland will be managed to maximise benefits for wildlife alongside the panels.
The funding for the building of the installation will come from a community share issue, when local people will have an opportunity to invest in PCE Ltd - their own not-for-profit community-owned business. It is hoped to negotiate a supply agreement with a local energy user and the trading surpluses of PCE Ltd will be reinvested in local community benefit.
Coach Road Solar Meadow Zoom webinar - Monday 29th July 2024
On Monday 29th July, PROSPECTS Community Energy hosted a webinar about the next steps for the solar meadow project at Coach Road in Oswaldtwistle. The webinar provided an update on the programme towards construction, as well as details of how to invest in the share offer. Unfortunately, due to technical issues we were unable to record the webinar as planned, however notes from the webinar are available to download here.
Planning permission approved with conditions - June 2024
Great news! Planning permission for Coach Road Solar Meadow was approved with conditions at Hyndburn Council's Planning Committee meeting on 12 June 2024. PROSPECTS Community Energy is now working on the next phase of delivering the project and it is hoped the site will begin to generate electricity by the end of 2025.
Planning application submitted - May 2023
The planning application for Coach Road Solar Meadow has now been submitted and is available to view on Hyndburn Borough Council's planning portal.
Face to face meeting - Wednesday 24th May 2023, 6pm
As requested at the Coach Road Solar Meadow webinar on 18th May 2023, PROSPECTS Community Energy will hold a face to face meeting with local residents on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at 6pm to discuss the Coach Road Solar Meadow planning application. All residents are invited to attend. Please meet at the entrance to Coach Road Meadow.
Webinar - Thursday 18th May 2023
PROSPECTS Community Energy and Sharenergy held a webinar on 18th May 2023 about the plans for the solar meadow at Coach Road in Oswaldtwistle. You can view the recording of the webinar below:
