PLANS have been revealed for a new 3‑megawatt solar energy scheme at the MoD Sealand site in Deeside.
A consultation has been launched over the proposal which would see a former playing field redeveloped to supply renewable electricity directly to defence and research facilities on the base.
The proposal, submitted on behalf of EMCOR UK, seeks full planning permission for a ground‑mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array on 3.2 hectares of brownfield land within the MoD Sealand complex off Green Lane East.
If approved, the scheme would generate enough electricity to support on‑site operations through a private connection to the existing 11kV network, reducing reliance on the national grid.
Developers say the project would contribute to both national and Welsh Government climate targets, including Wales’s ambition to generate 70 per cent of consumed electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The solar farm would have an operational lifespan of at least 40 years.
The application site is a disused grass playing field with no public access and no trees or established vegetation. It lies within the boundaries of the MoD Sealand base, bordered by major road infrastructure including the A494 and A548, with agricultural land further east.
Although the land is designated as part of a Principal Employment Area in the Flintshire Local Development Plan, planning documents state that the site has not attracted employment development and is currently unsuitable for industrial use due to long‑standing drainage and infrastructure constraints. A previous proposal for an Advanced Technology Research Centre on the site did not proceed for these reasons.
The planning statement argues that the solar scheme represents a viable alternative use that would directly support existing high‑skilled jobs at MoD Sealand rather than displacing employment opportunities elsewhere.
According to technical studies submitted with the application, the solar development would have no significant adverse impact on the surrounding environment. The site is screened from nearby homes by existing buildings and woodland, and assessments found no unacceptable effects on landscape character or visual amenity.
The land currently supports species‑poor grassland, and the proposal includes plans to enhance biodiversity through wildflower planting, improved grassland management and the creation of habitats for insects and small mammals. Developers say this would result in a net biodiversity gain over the lifetime of the project.
Flood risk assessments classify the development as “less vulnerable” and conclude that flood risks can be adequately managed, with most surfaces remaining permeable and no increase in flooding elsewhere.
Construction of the solar array is expected to take around four months. Traffic movements and disturbance would be limited, with most components already stored on the wider MoD Sealand site. No additional lighting is proposed and existing security measures, including fencing and CCTV, would remain in place.
Once operational, the solar farm would require minimal maintenance and would operate without notable noise or emissions, the planning documents state.
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As the scheme qualifies as major development, a pre‑application public consultation is currently under way.
Feedback from local residents, community groups and statutory bodies will be summarised in a consultation report before the planning application is formally determined by Flintshire County Council.
The consultation website can be accessed via http://www.sealandsolar.co.uk/
A decision is expected later this year.
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