AN area the size of nine football fields is set to be transformed into a solar panel farm in Samlesbury.

Planning permission has been granted for BAE Systems to install around 16,000 individual solar panels at its military aircraft manufacturing site just outside the Ribble Valley village.

The panels will cover more than 13 acres and generate up to 2.5MW of peak electrical output, helping provide the power to build aircraft such as Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II.

The company submitted the proposal, which will provide around 25 per cent of the site’s peak demand for electricity, to South Ribble Borough Council earlier this year.

After evaluating various renewable energy concepts, solar power was considered to the best option for the Samlesbury site which every year spends millions of pounds on electricity and consumes the same amount of power needed to run 11,500 homes.

The solar panels, around 2.5m in height, will be located on an area of the site which includes a portion of the old runway.

Woodland on either side of the runway will provide natural screening from most locations in the area.

Stuart Barker, estates manager at BAE Systems Samlesbury said: “We are delighted that the application has been approved – we feel it’s a real win-win situation.

“The company will be able to reduce its impact on the environment as well as save costs on energy. Over the lifetime, the panels will prevent the equivalent of 29,000 tonnes of CO2 being added to the atmosphere.”

Samlesbury and Cuerdale Parish Councillor Barrie Yates said: “I attended the planning meeting and spoke on behalf of the council.

“Neither we or Mellor Parish Council, Samlesbury Hall, or any resident that I’ve spoke to, had any objections.

“It will save a lot of CO2 going into the air every year and it’s green energy.”

The installation will only generate power for BAE Systems’ operations, lessening its reliance on the National Grid and freeing up capacity for developments on the Lancashire Enterprise Zone.

BAE Systems’ Samlesbury site manufactures the aft fuselage and empennage for all versions of the new F-35 jet and major components for Typhoon jets.