Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) has successfully appealed the decision to refuse planning permission for the construction of a solar farm on its operational land. The airport had submitted an application last January to build a solar farm consisting of 5,616 solar panels on a 13-acre site east of its runway. However, the plans were initially rejected by Halton Council in July 2022, citing insufficient evidence that the site was part of JLA’s operational land.
JLA lodged an appeal with the government’s planning inspectorate, arguing that the solar farm was crucial to its net-zero ambitions. On the other hand, opponents of the plans raised concerns about the potential damage to local wildlife and green space. Last week, the planning inspectorate approved the appeal, granting the airport permission to proceed with the construction of the solar farm.
A spokesperson for Liverpool John Lennon Airport expressed their delight with the outcome, stating that the solar farm is a significant part of their sustainability plans. The airport aims to decarbonize its operation by 2040, with the solar farm estimated to reduce emissions by around 20% annually. The plans for the solar farm will be launched in the coming weeks and align with the City Region’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The construction of the solar farm at Liverpool John Lennon Airport is a positive step toward a more sustainable future for the airport. By harnessing solar energy, the airport can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to the wider efforts of the City Region to combat climate change. The successful appeal highlights the importance of renewable energy projects in achieving ambitious environmental targets.
Source: This article is based on the source article titled “Liverpool John Lennon Airport wins approval to build solar farm” published on Liverpool Echo website.