Ground-mounted solar farm at Land at Toyota Manufacturing, Derby

What was proposed

A ground-mounted solar farm with ancillary infrastructure would generate electricity directly for Toyota Manufacturing UK.

“The proposed development is for the installation and operation of a ground-mounted solar farm that will generate and deliver electrical power directly to Toyota Manufacturing UK. This will connect to the facility via an underground cable route that will follow the access route that is to be created. The cable route works are proposed to be undertaken as part of permitted development and do not form part of this application.”

“A solar farm consists of solar PV panels organised into arrays alongside ancillary infrastructure. Most of the site will remain open as grassed spacing between rows and field margins. The solar panels will be mounted on galvanised metal frames set into the ground by direct piling. In order to achieve optimum solar gain, the panels will be oriented in east-west rows with panels facing towards the south.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site comprises seven vacant former agricultural fields, bounded by industrial land, roads, woodland, hedgerows and nearby settlements.

“The application site is addressed as Land at Toyota Manufacturing UK, Derby, DE1 9TA. This includes land for landscaping and biodiversity measures. The specific area of the site for the proposed development is comprised of vacant fields. The site was previously used for agricultural purposes. The entire site is comprised of seven different fields largely separated by existing trees and hedgerows.”

“There are no public rights of way on the site, however footpath 11 runs along the northern boundary of the site on the opposite side of the wooded boundary that separates the proposed site from nearby fields. There are no designated heritage assets within the site. The nearest Listed Buildings are properties on Main Street, Burnaston. These are situated approximately 600 meters away in a north-east direction. The application site is not situated within a Conservation Area.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Toyota’s existing solar farm and other solar-panel schemes were approved in 2011, while a 2025 screening opinion found the proposal was not EIA development.

“DMOT/2025/0075 - Screening Opinion request under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 relating to a proposed Solar Farm with ancillary infrastructure, security fencing, landscaping provision, and ecological enhancements at Toyota Manufacturing UK Burnaston located on Parcels of land at Toyota Manufacturing UK, Burnaston, Derbyshire, DE1 9TA - Not EIA Development: February 2025.”

“9/2011/0423 - The installation of 245 ground mount solar panels at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Uk Ltd, Burnaston, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 9TA - Approved: June 2011.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the location was suitable, impacts could be mitigated, and low-carbon, economic and social benefits outweighed identified harms.

“The solar photovoltaic farm as proposed also brings about economic and social benefits in terms of sustaining Toyota and helping to maintain competitiveness to enable continued job provision and other benefits, which is also attributed significant positive weight. The applicant has outlined that Toyota invested in excess of £2.82 billion and employed 2,375 local people in high skilled jobs and supports 15,000 jobs in the UK supply chain.”

“The overall weighting of various planning considerations have been carefully considered. Whilst it is acknowledged that the biodiversity issues associated with the proposals have not been wholly addressed the applicant has investigated alternative locations within the site with no other feasible option identified.”

Officer report

Who addressed the committee

An objector and the applicant addressed the committee, while Councillors Kirke and Muller spoke respectively about residents’ concerns and support for the proposal.

What members debated

Members discussed irreplaceable habitat, biodiversity net gain and conflicting ecological advice, with officers explaining how the planning balance and national metric applied.

“Members considered the Application and raised concerns regarding the loss of irreplaceable habitat, Biodiversity Net Gain and the conflicting advice provided by the National Wildlife Trust and Toyota’s ecologist.”

“The Head of Planning clarified that Biodiversity Net Gain metric was defined by National Guidance and that the advice from experts was considered a weighted planning balance.”

Minutes