​A hotel in rural Staffordshire has been granted permission to install a solar farm that will provide enough renewable electricity to meet the energy demands of its entire estate.

The Tawny, located in Consall near Wetley Rocks, will install 887 solar panels in a field next to its car park, alongside a battery storage facility positioned within a service yard. The project is designed to support the hotel's efforts to improve its environmental performance and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The solar array is expected to save around 50 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, a figure equivalent to planting more than 2,200 trees. The development will help the estate transition away from energy sources such as oil and gas, which are currently in use across the site.

Although the estate is situated within the Staffordshire greenbelt, planning officers at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council determined that the environmental benefits of the project would outweigh any visual impact. Conditions attached to the approval require the planting of hedgerows around the solar panels to screen them from nearby properties and preserve the surrounding landscape.

The estate includes a hotel, a wedding venue and several camping pods, all of which contribute to a significant demand for energy. The new solar farm will support the site's overall sustainability goals while also improving its energy independence.

Members of the local planning committee welcomed the initiative and viewed the transition to solar power as a major improvement, especially when compared to the noise and emissions produced by a diesel generator previously used on-site. The project was also seen as a model for other rural businesses looking to enhance their environmental credentials without compromising the character of the countryside.

The solar farm is expected to be installed later this year.