164-acre solar farm set for go-ahead between Harrogate and RiponPlans to build solar farm the size of 88 football pitches in Harrogate villageMP calls for clarity over Scotton solar farm plan

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called for clarity over a planned 88-hectare solar farm on farmland north of Scotton.

Sustainable energy company Gridserve is proposing to build the power plant and substation at Lawrence Moor Farm.

Its plans envisage thousands of solar panels generating up to 49.9 megawatts of green energy that could power up to 14,000 homes.

However, Mr Jones has called for clarity over the plans after the proposals have yet to be finalised.

The Conservative MP was prompted to write to the company in March after residents in Scotton, Farnham and Brearton contacted him concerned about the lack of information about the proposals.

Mr Jones wrote to Gridserve, which is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, to ask for an update, but was told there had not been “any material update to the status of our potential development in Scotton”.

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At the end of July 2021, Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that a detailed EIA would be required, but Gridserve has taken no action since.

Now, Mr Jones has called on the company to decide whether it wishes to continue with the proposal.

Andrew Jones

He said:

“People in the area need certainty on what is happening with this proposal. I want Gridserve to bring them that certainty sooner rather than later. 

“All that we really know about the proposal is that it covers a massive area and will dominate the landscape. 

“Surely after all this time Gridserve can decide whether it wishes to proceed and, if it does, get a formal planning application in so that its merits and otherwise can be properly debated.”

MP seeks answers on Scotton solar farm

The Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough has written to an energy company to ask if it intends to go ahead with plans to build a huge solar farm on farmland north of Scotton. 

Andrew Jones was prompted into action by residents in Scotton, Farnham and Brearton who contacted him concerned about the lack of any information about the proposals. 

Sustainable energy company Gridserve is proposing to build the solar plant on an 88-hectare site belonging to Lawrence Moor Farm. 

Its plans envisage thousands of solar panels generating up to 49.9 megawatts of green energy that could power up to 14,000 homes. 

Gridserve, which is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, applied to Harrogate Borough Council for a scoping opinion to see if it felt a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

There were objections from nearby parish councils, the Harrogate Ramblers and the Harrogate and Dales Horse Riding Association, as well as the local Green Party, which opposes such developments on agricultural land. 

At the end of July 2021, Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that a detailed EIA would be required, but Gridserve has taken no action since. 

Mr Jones said:  

“I have been in touch with the council’s planning department and no planning application has been submitted since that date. From talking to many local people, I know that residents feel very much like the threat of an application is hanging over them.  No-one disputes the need for renewable energy. It is primarily the location and effect on agricultural land which is the issue. 

“I have therefore written to Gridserve to ask their intentions for the land. I hope, given the local opposition, that they will be reconsidering the plans, but I will let residents know the position when I receive a response.” 

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Plans submitted for South Stainley solar farm that could power 3,000 homes

Plans have been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council to build a major solar farm in South Stainley that could power 3,000 homes.

The site north of Burton Top Farm covers 19 hectares of land and is also close to the village of Wormald Green.

If approved, it would be the second solar farm in the area, following the approval of Elgin Energy’s nearby Caton Solar Farm by HBC’s planning committee in August 2021. That site is larger and can power up to 15,000 homes.

Applicants Infraland and Boultbee Brooks say the reneweable energy facility would operate at a peak capacity of 10MW a year to help the UK meet its legal target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Solar panels would be built on three grade 3 agricultural fields, which are currently used for arable farming and for pasture.

Construction would take around 12 weeks with planning permission sought for the farm to operate for 40 years.

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In a planning statement, the applicants said the farm would support HBC’s economic policies by encouraging the diversification of use for rural and agricultural areas.

The applicants set up an online consultation about the plans for residents living in South Stainley, Bishop Monkton, Burton Leanard and Markington with Wallterthwaite and sent out more than 1,000 leaflets to homes.

The web consultation garnered just nine responses, with four offering support or no objection and five against.

Caton Solar Farm

Irish renewable energy firm Elgin Energy was granted permission to build Caton Solar Farm on land the size of 70 football pitches last year. It will generate up to 48MW a year and power 15,000 homes.

The UK government sees solar as an important part of the energy mix as it attempts to reduce the country’s dependancy on foreign imports and fossil fuels.

However, applications to build solar farms on agricultural land have not always been popular with residents who might live near them.

South Stainley Parish Council is yet to issue its formal response to the Infraland and Boultree Brooks application, but last year it strongly objected to the Caton Solar Farm plans.

 It said:

“The area would become sterilised from an agricultural, environmental and recreational point of view.”

Fears in Scotton that gigantic solar farm will spoil picturesque village

Residents in Scotton are mobilising against plans to build a solar farm the size of 150 football pitches that they believe will spoil their picturesque village.

UK energy firm Gridserve is behind a proposal to build the solar farm on fields belonging to Lawrence Moor Farm.

Thousands of solar panels would generate up to 49.9 megawatts of green energy that could power up to 14,000 homes.

The village on the outskirts of Knaresborough has a population of around 600 people.

Scotton resident Richard Tallis, who has lived in the village for 12 years, has distributed leaflets to villagers and said 165 people have responded to say they are opposed to the plans.

Two public footpaths would be surrounded by solar panels if they were passed.

Mr Tallis said:

“We’re not against solar farms, just put them in the right places.

“Agricultural land should be used for agricultural purposes.

“There’s a strength of opinion around the village opposing it.”

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The main site where Gridserve wants to put the solar panels is bound by the narrow country roads Low Moor Lane and High Moor Lane. It is also opposite the village primary school.

Mr Tallis said he fears the roads are ill-equipped to cope with eight months of construction traffic whilst the site is built.

He said he is not a “NIMBY” but feels that solar farms should be built on the edge of motorways and away from residential areas.

“I accept there will always be people that criticise us for opposing it.

“But there are other sites that are more suitable, not on the edge of a picturesque green village.”

Net-zero

This morning the UK government published its flagship energy strategy. It wants the country to produce most of the energy it uses through renewables.

It says the UK will increase current solar capacity by five times before 2035.

A spokesperson for Gridserve said:

“Matters of proximity, visual impact and access throughout the construction and operation of the Scotton solar farm will be integral parts of the forthcoming planning and design process.

“We hope we are able to proceed with the next design phases in an open, collaborative approach that involves members of the local community and other statutory and non-statutory stakeholders”

Residents submit complaint over South Stainley solar farm decision

Residents in South Stainley have submitted a formal complaint to Harrogate Borough Council over a decision to approve a solar farm in the village.

The proposal, submitted by Elgin Energy EsCo Limited, was approved in August and would see a farm of the equivalent size of 150 football pitches built.

The developer said in its documents that the farm could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate.

However, residents in the parish have complained to the council over how the application was handled at planning committee.

Following a meeting of the South Stainley with Clayton parish, Jane Pickering, who chaired the meeting, wrote to the borough council.

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She raised concern that the committee never took a site visit, held the meeting at short notice and that the views of residents were “ignored and not taken into account”.

In the letter, Ms Pickering said:

“Solar green energy schemes require a balanced planning view. Due to the sheer scale of the proposals and the landscape and visual impacts involved, time should have been given to hear both sides of the argument, and to carefully analyse the negative environmental impacts.

“The parish is not convinced that a balanced and accurate view was presented to the committee and that a decision was made with a lack of understanding of the issues and the local impact of such a huge scheme.”

South Stainley had previously submitted objections to the council over loss of green fields and agricultural land.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The planning application (19/02259/EIAMAJ) was determined in accordance with national and local planning policy and procedure.”

Second solar farm planned

The complaint from residents comes as a second solar farm is planned for South Stainley.

Infraland Ltd and Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy Ltd have unveiled plans for a farm on 19 hectares of land between South Stainley and Wormald Green.

The proposals would see photovoltaic panels laid out in rows running east to west on the site. The plan has yet to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

Second solar farm plan unveiled in South Stainley

Developers are consulting on proposals for another solar farm in South Stainley 

Infraland Ltd and Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy Ltd have unveiled plans for a farm on 19 hectares of land between South Stainley and Wormald Green.

The proposals would see photovoltaic panels laid out in rows running east to west on the site. The plan has yet to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

According to the plans, the site would generate 10 megawatts of power which would be able to power up to 3,000 homes.

The developer said in its proposal:

“The solar panels will be fixed on a pile-driven metal mounting frame securely fixed to the ground with posts. The height of the panels will be at a maximum of 3.087 meters from ground level.

“The panels will be installed at around 25 degrees from the horizontal, around 5.0m apart and would be fixed in that orientation.”

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LanPro, planning agent for the developers, is holding a consultation on the proposal online until October 24. Residents can give their views on the plan here.

Meanwhile, South Stainley with Clayton parish is set to host a meeting on November 1 to discuss how to respond to the solar farm.

It follows Harrogate Borough Council approving a similar development in the village in August.

Elgin Energy were given permission to build a 200-acre solar farm, despite concerns from villagers about the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

Harrogate district to get solar farm powering 15,000 homes

Harrogate councillors have today backed plans to build a large solar farm between Harrogate and Ripon.

The proposal, submitted by Elgin Energy EsCo Limited, would see Cayton Solar Farm built near the village of South Stainley.

The company says the site could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate with green energy. It will operate for 30 years.

A report before today’s planning committee said the farm, which will take up the equivalent size of 150 football pitches, would bring “significant renewable energy benefits” to the district and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A total of 58 people wrote to the council to object to the application but 85 people wrote supporting it.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council voted unanimously to defer the plan to officers for approval at a planning committee meeting today.

Global warming

Cllr Pat Marsh, member of the planning committee, said:

“I can see the concerns of those who live close by, if it gets its permission. But, if you go down the A30 into Cornwall, there are solar panels all the way down virtually. It’s there and it exists.

“If you go into the centre of Spain, coming down the mountains into the very middle of Spain there are huge solar farms. I do not hear anybody shouting and screaming and the reason is because we have seen the impact of global warming.

“For once this district is becoming proactive.”

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Andrew Mott, agent for the developer, told the committee:

“Considerable care has been taken in the design of the development to ensure that the environmental considerations are protected and biodiversity promoted.

“There are economic benefits in terms of employment opportunities during the construction and operation phases of the proposal. There is approximately £120,000 per year in business rates.”

Sterile landscape fears

Residents that oppose the application are upset about the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

In its submission the council, South Stainley Parish Council objected to the perceived negative impact on the environment. It said:

“The area would become sterilised from an agricultural, environmental and recreational point of view.

“While maintenance staff in white transit vans will prosper, what happens to the farm workers and rural lifestyles which depend on local agriculture?”

Parish council fears 200-acre Harrogate district solar farm will ‘sterilise’ landscape

A parish council has criticised proposals for a 200-acre solar farm near South Stainley, saying it will cause “long-term harm” to the agriculture industry and “sterilise” the rural landscape.

Elgin Energy EsCo Limited is behind plans to create Cayton Solar Farm near the village, which is between Harrogate and Ripon. The company says the site could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate with green energy.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will decide whether to approve the solar farm on Tuesday. A council report recommends it defers the application to the council’s executive officer for development management for approval subject to a biodiversity management plan.

The report says the farm, which would take up the equivalent size of 150 football pitches, would bring “significant renewable energy benefits” to the district and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Local opposition to the solar farm has been building since plans were submitted in 2019, with many residents upset over the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

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The council’s report categorises the agricultural land it would be built on as class 3b quality, which the government defines as “moderate quality” but still able to produce high yields of grass for grazing throughout the year.

Elgin Energy has said it will retain the agricultural use of the land in the form of sheep grazing.

There have been 85 comments in favour of the solar farm and 58 against it.

South Stainley Parish Council objected to the perceived negative impact on the environment. Its submission to the council says:

“The area would become sterilised from an agricultural, environmental and recreational point of view.

“While maintenance staff in white transit vans will prosper, what happens to the farm workers and rural lifestyles which depend on local agriculture?”.

Local environmental charity Zero Carbon Harrogate submitted its comments in support of the application.

“We believe that this application supports the objectives of the Harrogate Climate Coalition ‘to champion carbon reduction throughout the Harrogate district, helping the district achieve net-zero emissions’.”