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24
Apr
Major solar farm plan to be submitted for Harrogate village
A plan for a major solar farm near a Harrogate village looks set to be submitted.
Spanish renewable energy firm Abei Energy wants to develop a 35-hectare solar photovoltaic farm on mainly arable land at Juniper Farm, just north of Weeton.
The farm, which is adjacent to both Weeton Lane and Woodgate Lane, would produce 17.5 megawatts of renewable electric energy, enough to supply about 6,100 homes.
It would include of rows of solar panels, battery energy storage units, a switching station and a meteorological station.
According to a screening application submitted to North Yorkshire Council in July 2024, construction of the site would be expected to take up to 46 weeks.
A site map of the solar farm in Weeton.
A spokesperson for Abei Energy told the Stray Ferret that it was finalising its application and expects to submit it to the council possibly as early as next month.
They said:
We are currently finalising the necessary documentation and anticipate submitting the full planning application for the Juniper Farm project in late-May to early June.
Weeton Parish Council previously said the application should require an environmental impact assessment in order to assist with the council “making an informed decision on the matter”.
However, the council ruled in October that no such assessment would be required.
The parish council said it intends to open a consultation on the project once a formal planning application has been submitted in order to decide on a response.
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