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08
Aug
Plans to build solar farm the size of 88 football pitches in Harrogate village
Plans have been revealed to build a solar farm roughly the size of 88 football pitches in a village near Harrogate.
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 would produce enough renewable electric energy for the local grid network to supply about 6,100 homes.
The development would include of rows of solar panels, battery energy storage units, a switching station, a meteorological station and would be expected to take 43 weeks to construct.
A site office, including a canteen and toilets, would be built during construction.
The site includes Weeton Beck and a public right of way.
Abei Energy has applied to North Yorkshire Council for a screening opinion. If screening identifies significant enviornmental effects, an enviornmental impact assessment would be required before a formal planning application is submitted.
A report by environmental consultants Ecus on behalf of Abei Energy said::
Environmental screening of the proposed development indicates that, with appropriate mitigation in place, environmental impacts would be generally limited in extent and based on the nature, scale and location of the proposed development it is considered that the proposed development is unlikely to result in significant environmental effects.
But Weeton Parish Council said in its response to the council:
It is the council's opinion that any planning application of this size and nature should include a comprehensive set of assessments to assist the parish council and members of the community in making an informed decision on the matter. We therefore support the need for an enviornmental impact assessment to be prepared for any planning application associated with the proposed development.
North Yorkshire Local Access Forum, which encourages people to visit the countryside, said in its submission to the council it was "surprised and disappointed" the application had not been flagged up to it sooner as a footpath ran through the site. It added:
This will be a considerable loss of amentiy, not insignificant as claimed.
The public body Natural England said in its submission the scheme "has potential likely significant effects on statutorily designated nature conservation sites or landscapes and further consideration is required".
The council will decide whether an enviornmental impact assessment is required.
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