Solar farm proposal for land close to Five Pits Trail and near three nature conservation areas
A renewable energy company has earmarked agricultural land near the Five Pits Trail in north Derbyshire for a proposed small solar farm development.
Sonaura’s vision for the site north of Williamthorpe Road, Holmewood is disclosed in a request for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion to North East Derbyshire District Council. An EIA is only required where a proposed development is likely to have significant effects on the environment.
The energy company has not submitted a formal planning application for the site which covers 12.7 hectares as well as land required for access across another agricultural field to the south.
A report prepared by LDA Design on behalf of Sonaura Limited states that the preferred cable route connecting the site to the proposed Industrial Power User runs along the Five Pits Trail for approximately 1km. The secondary cable route option runs from the southernmost part of the site, namely the access track, through public highway (Feld Lane, Caister Drive, Park Road, Tupton Way) for approximately 1.3km.
Three designated sites for nature conservation are located within 1km of the site – Wolfie Ponds Grassland is 10m north-west, Birkin Lane Carr is 800m north and Williamthorpe Ponds is 1km east of the site.
The presence of two ponds within 250m of the site means there is a risk that Great Crested Newts could use terrestrial habitat on-site. The proximity of the ponds as well as the on-site hedgerows and woodland may provide potentially suitable habitat for reptile species such as grass snake. The arable land and hedgerows may offer suitable breeding habitat for ground nesting and farmland birds.
Skylark were recorded on-site during a walkover in October 2025.
The report states that proposed landscaping includes a wildflower area with trees in the north-east corner of the site, a further wildflower meadow along the western site boundary, and hedgerow reinforcement along the northern site boundary. The woodland along Five Pits Trail would be retained as part of the design and protected during construction.
A four hectare area of farmland within the south-eastern corner of the site would be retained for continued arable use.
Directly to the east of the site is a new housing development of 550 dwellings which is largely constructed.
Approximately 30m north of the site, a planning application has been submitted for a solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System covering a 18.6 hectare site.
Satellite imagery shows that a 247-home development is presently under construction approximately 520m south of the solar PV development and 200m south of the access track.
LDA Design’s report, titled Five Pits Trail Private Wire Solar, states: “This EIA screening assessment has considered whether the proposed development is likely to give rise to significant effects on the environment. It has concluded that the proposal is not likely to introduce significant environmental effects and, where environmental impacts have been identified, it would be possible to avoid or mitigate these impacts through tried and tested methods to manage the development process, the details of which would be secured through the planning permission process.
“Significant effects on the environment are not considered likely either alone or in combination with other existing or/and approved development. The proposed development is therefore not considered to be EIA development, as defined by the EIA Regulations.”