In a landmark decision, Halton Council’s planning department has approved a proposal to transform the site of the former St Michael’s golf course in Widnes into a sprawling solar farm. Spanning an impressive 27 acres (11 hectares) - equivalent to 15 football pitches - the project will feature a state-of-the-art 'solar microgrid.'
This new development will see over 7,200 solar panels installed, generating approximately four megawatts of electricity. The renewable energy produced will be used to power several public buildings, including Halton Council’s headquarters, the Lower House Lane depot, the DCBL Stadium, and the newly built leisure centre on Moor Lane.
This solar farm will significantly enhance local green energy infrastructure, quadrupling the capacity of an adjacent solar farm that opened in 2020. Located between Ditton Road and Speke Road, the project underscores the region’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy solutions.
The decision to utilise the former golf course as a solar farm is particularly poignant given its troubled past. Once a municipal golf course, St Michael’s was shuttered in 2004 after the Health Protection Agency identified arsenic contamination in the soil and detected outbreaks of leachate (a harmful liquid by-product of waste).
Though efforts were made to rehabilitate the site and reopen it to the public in 2016, these plans ultimately stalled. Now, the area is set to take on a new purpose, delivering clean energy to the community while giving new life to a previously contaminated site.
Halton Council’s endorsement of the solar farm is a decisive step towards a greener future, reflecting the growing momentum for renewable energy projects in the UK. By repurposing a site with a challenging history, this initiative is an excellent example of sustainable development in action.
The solar microgrid is not just a win for the environment but also for the local community, helping reduce reliance on traditional energy sources while powering vital public infrastructure.
This bold move signals an exciting chapter for Widnes, where a once-tainted site will now shine as a beacon of renewable energy innovation.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk "Plan for solar farm on former golf course approved" by Mark Smith, Local Democracy Reporting Service
