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Sept 2024
Multinational firm's plans to power Harrogate building with solar panels approved
Plans to install almost 800 solar panels alongside a Harrogate office have been approved.
Mastercard put the application to North Yorkshire Council in April. It sought approval to construct the panels at Vocalink, a payment systems provider based at Cardale Park that is owned by the payment card services provider.
Planning documents say the panels will be erected on 0.42-hectares of land adjacent to the site off Otley Road to generate solar-powered green energy, which could power around 25% of all the electricity used at the office.
The application said the scheme would complement existing solar panels on the roof of the office to reduce emissions.
The company also successfully applied to erect a 2.4-metre-high fence to surround the panels, which will be green to blend in with the land.
A new access point to the solar panelled area will be created from the existing car park.
North Yorkshire Council requested a glint and glare assessment following submission of the plans to assess the potential impact on surroundings.
In a public report by the council, the planning officer found there would be a “minor to moderate, potentially local, short-term effect” from solar glare, which could be “detrimental” to the safe movement of drivers. The report adds:
[It could also be detrimental to] the comfortable conditions of occupiers of the neighbouring offices at certain times of the day during certain months.
Recommended mitigation included planting dense vegetation (such as hedges and shrubs) with a minimum height of 1.5 metres on the sides of the road and the use of blinds and curtains.
The environmental health officer is satisfied with the results from the glint and glare survey but advises that the recommended mitigation measures should be implemented and maintained for the lifetime of the development.
The proposed site layout. Credit: Weddles
The planning officer also said both national and local planning policies were supportive of renewable and low carbon energy projects, where the impacts can be made acceptable.
The solar panels would have a “significant effect in reducing greenhouse gases” and will support the company in its operations, the report adds.
It did acknowledge employment land would be lost for the scheme, but found the wider economic and environmental benefits outweigh the loss of the land.
The plans were approved last week subject to conditions.
As part of the conditions, the solar panels must be removed either within three months of them ceasing to be used for generating electricity, or 40 years after the first generation of electricity.
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