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23
Jul
Developer submits plan for major solar farm in Harrogate village
A formal planning application has been submitted to create a solar farm in Weeton.
Spanish renewable energy firm Abei Energy has tabled the proposal to North Yorkshire Council for a site at Juniper Farm, just north of the village.
The plans would see a 35-hectare solar photovoltaic farm created on mainly arable land at the site.
It would include rows of solar panels, battery energy storage units, a switching station and a meteorological station.
The farm, which is adjacent to both Weeton Lane and Woodgate Lane, would produce 15.4 megawatts of renewable electric energy, enough to supply about 7,200 homes during peak times.
A site map of the solar farm in Weeton.
According to planning documents, the solar farm would be in place for a period of 40 years before it is decommisioned and “returned to its original condition”.
The developer said the aim of the scheme is to produce renewable energy to help contribute to local “grid resilience”.
It said:
The project aims to generate and store clean, renewable electricity, supporting the decarbonisation of the UK's energy system while contributing to local grid resilience and energy security.
The developer added that during operation of the farm, some agricultural use will remain in place.
It said:
Designed to make efficient use of agricultural land, the development enables ongoing use such as sheep grazing beneath the solar arrays. It is also shaped by a strong commitment to environmental protection, with enhancements planned to promote biodiversity and improve landscape integration.
Construction of the farm would take 40 weeks, which would take place fro 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am until 1pm on Saturdays.
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Opposition to the solar farm
In Weeton, the plan has proved controversial.
Some residents have objected to the proposal and signs which read “help save Weeton village” have been put up around the village.
The site where the solar farm is planned.
Meanwhile, Stop Weeton Solar Farm was recently set up by residents who disagree with the plans to establish the solar farm.
Fiona Gibson, who set up the group, told the Stray Ferret previously that the scheme would “double the size” of the village.
She said:
I’m not against net-zero but I think there’s a place for solar farms – this isn’t it. Not in a small village or on the green belt. There’s a risk of turning a small village industrial.
I think there’s also a danger to the wildlife. These kinds of solar panels can disrupt natural habitats. We have crested newts, badgers, curlews, red kites, and all kinds of protected species here.
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