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04
Dec
164-acre solar farm set for go-ahead between Harrogate and Ripon
A 164-acre solar farm looks set to be built between Harrogate and Ripon.
Knaresborough-based Harmony Energy wants to create the farm on agricultural land between the villages of Wormald Green, Bishop Monkton and Burton Leonard, close to the A61.
It would have the capacity to generate up to 43 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 12,000 homes.
The scheme comprises rows of solar panels protruding three metres from the ground, a substation, pole mounted CCTV, fencing and landscaping. An access road would be built off the A61.
Planning permission is sought for 40 years, after which the site would revert to agricultural use.
North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee, which adjudicates on major developments in the county, will discuss the application next week.
But councillors on the committee have been recommended to approve the scheme, subject to conditions, when they meet on Tuesday, December 10.
Council case officer Kate Broadbank said in her report to councillors, which you can read here, the scheme represents “sustainable development”.
Ms Broadbank said the key considerations were use of agricultural land, impact on the landscape, flooding, highways and impact on public rights of way and ecology. that, adding:
The proposed solar farm is considered to be acceptable in principle and meets the requirements of local and national planning policies. There is strong national support for renewable energy schemes, as set out in national guidance and policy documents.
The provision of renewable energy attracts substantial weight in favour of the development and biodiversity enhancements attract moderate weight in favour. The proposal is acceptable in terms of landscape impact, biodiversity and the natural environment, the historic environment, highways and amenity.
Parish council concerns
The council consultation attracted 38 objections and five expressions of support.
Bishop Monkton Parish Council said it was concerned about the potential to affect rainfall into the beck.
Burton Leonard Parish Council said it did not support or object to the scheme but added more parishioners appeared to object than support and listed areas of concern, which included the ‘huge’ scale of the scheme and loss of good quality agricultural land.
Ms Broadbank’s report said council officers gave “careful consideration” to the use of agricultural land, but added:
Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposal would change the use of this land from the growth of crops for animal feed this is balanced against the significant weight that should be afforded to the benefits of provision of renewable energy, the ecological enhancements proposed, the benefits of farm diversification and the improvement in agricultural land quality as a result of the land not being intensively farmed.
Resting the land from intensive agriculture would likely improve soil health by increasing the organic matter in the soil and improving soil structure and drainage. It is also acknowledged that the land remains available for grazing under the panels and can still be used for the purposes of agriculture and food production.
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'Most efficient use of the site'
The closest properties to the site are Monkton Mains Farm, Leyton Lees, Park House and Park Lodge.
Mains Lane, a bridleway linking the A61 with Bishop Monkton, bisects the middle of the site.
A design and access statement, written by Energy Planning Limited on behalf of Harmony Energy, said:
The layout has been designed to make the most efficient use of the site, whilst avoiding any necessary constraints. This includes the existing vegetation features, the majority of which are retained and which are predominantly around field boundaries, buffers from any ecological features, and appropriate set-back distances from the closest residential properties.
All panels have an anti-glare coating to minimise glint and glare as much as possible.
The rows of panels would be mounted on aluminium frames supported by upright poles driven into the ground to a depth of approximately 1m. No piling and little excavation is required for their installation, with ground disturbance kept to a minimum. The panels would be angled south to take advantage of as much sunlight as possible. The total height above ground of the panels would be 3 metres.
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