Large scale, ground-mounted Wrigley Head Solar Farm fully funded by local council as part of Green New Deal
Construction work has begun on the first large scale solar farm in Oldham. Oldham Council is fully funding the project at Wrigley Head in Failsworth, as part of the wider Green New Deal initiative. This aims to deliver environmental and economic benefits to the region, while also creating green jobs and training opportunities.
Cllr Abdul Jabbar and MP Jim McMahon at Wrigley Head Solar Farm with staff from Oldham Council and Vital Energi, photo courtesy of Oldham Council
The new solar farm is expected to generate some 830,000 kWh of electricity per year, which the council is enough to power 310 homes. It should be fully operational in spring 2026. Initially, the electricity generated will be sold to a power company as means to help the council be more self-sufficient in energy.
Construction work is being handled by contractor Vital Energi, based in nearby Blackburn, with the team engaging local suppliers where possible.
The council-owned site chosen for the farm is beside the Metrolink tramline, landlocked and judged to be of poor environmental quality. But it is also part of the Moston Brook Green Corridor and one aim of the project is to demonstrate how renewable energy generation can complement ecological projects, with solar energy generation working alongside nature and green spaces. New trees and flowers will be planted at the site, while security fencing has been designed to allow animals to move freely through the farm and surrounding area.
Cllr Abdul Jabbar MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability at Oldham Council, says: ‘Wrigley Head Solar Farm is an important step for Oldham. It will generate renewable energy, support local jobs and training, and contribute to protecting our environment.’
Jim McMahon OBE, MP for Oldham West, adds: ‘This project brings together renewable energy and environmental protection. It is a positive development for the community and the local area.’
For more information about this and other projects in Oldham’s Green New Deal, see the council website.
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