Construction begins on Oldham's first solar farm

Oldham Council has broken ground on its first ground-mounted solar farm at Wrigley Head in Failsworth, marking the opening move of its Green New Deal. The site, tucked inside the Moston Brook Green Corridor, will start feeding power into the grid next spring while doubling as a small nature reserve.

Council finance chiefs say every pound for the panels comes from town hall reserves, not private developers. Vital Energi, the Manchester-based contractor hired to build the array, has been told to favour Oldham suppliers when ordering steel, fencing and labour over the coming months.

Once the last row of panels is fixed, the farm is expected to generate 830,000 kWh a year, roughly the amount 310 homes use. Electricity will be sold to a licensed supplier, with income channelled back into council services and, officers hope, future local energy schemes.

Wildlife has not been an afterthought. Security fencing around the field will sit high enough for badgers and foxes to slip underneath, and new trees and wildflower strips are being planted between the rows. The layout is designed to show residents that solar parks can share space with greenery rather than replace it.

Deputy Leader Cllr Abdul Jabbar and Oldham West MP Jim McMahon both visited the site on the first day of works. They framed the project as a small but visible signal that the borough intends to meet its climate duties while keeping jobs and training opportunities inside the M60.