Wetherby Services has submitted plans for a solar farm on land next to the A1 (M) service station — with the renewable energy it generates used to power the site’s electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
The land north of the service station, which is currently used for agricultural purposes, spans more than five hectares but it would be turned over to solar panels under plans submitted by Moto Services to North Yorkshire Council this month.
According to planning documents, the proposal forms part of Moto’s strategy to bring forward solar farms on land next to Moto’s existing service stations.
Moto Services is the UK’s largest motorway service station operator with 59 sites.
It is expected the solar panels would be able to generate up to 7MW of renewable energy.
The screening opinion application asks the council if an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be submitted for a future full planning application for the solar farm.
The majority of the site is in a zone with a low flood zone risk. However, as part of it is also located in areas with medium to high risk of flooding, North Yorkshire Council has recommended that its flooding department is consulted on the proposal.
The solar farm application follows the launch of 12 EV charging points at Wetherby Services last year.
Planning documents state:
“The proposed development is deemed crucial for the ongoing functionality of the associated Wetherby MSA. Electric vehicles will play a big part in the transition to zero emission transport, but to achieve these targets, it is imperative that suitable infrastructure is provided to support electric vehicles.
“The proposed development forms part of Moto’s wider strategy to bring forward solar farms on land adjacent to Moto’s existing MSAs, which will generate much needed electricity to power the EV Chargers at their services.”
In May, neighbouring authority Leeds City Council approved plans for 762 homes just 600m south of the site.
However, Moto says considering the “scale and nature” of the proposed solar farm development it would “unlikely lead to significant adverse effects” on the housing development.
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Grammy-winning DJ Calvin Harris spotted by fans at Wetherby Services
One of the biggest names in music, Calvin Harris, was spotted by fans in a motorway service station near Harrogate this week.
Livvy Elder and her friends had stopped at Wetherby Services on their way back to Newcastle following a weekend of raving at Creamfields festival.
Her boyfriend claimed he saw someone ‘in a red flannel shirt that resembled Calvin Harris’ in the male toilets, according to Livvy, but the group agreed ‘the world’s biggest DJ would never be in Wetherby’.
Much to their surprise, Calvin Harris appeared in front of them moments later after buying a coffee at Pret A Manger.
Livvy told the Stray Ferret:
“We were laughing away and ended up sitting down outside of Pret, expecting to be proven right that it wasn’t him, but other people started to talk and chatter away and we noticed that it actually was him!
“The biggest Dj in the world was just a metre away from us.
The group had watched the Scottish DJ headline the festival just two nights prior to meeting him.
Livvy continued:
“My friend was the one to ask him for a photo and told him we were sorry for disturbing him for a photo, but he was the kindest man so humble – he said it was no problem at all.”
“He even said I looked super cosy — I was totally wiped out from the festival and was in my pyjamas and Newcastle football shirt for the drive home.
“I was absolutely mortified to meet the biggest DJ looking like that.
“It totally topped off our weekend and was a moment we will never forget!”
Calvin Harris boasts an impressive 11 million followers on Instagram and 65.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
He now has an annual residency at one of the largest clubs in the world, Ushuaia, Ibiza, and has had 11 UK No.1 songs.
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Plans to install 12 electric vehicle charging points at Wetherby Services
Plans have been submitted to install 12 electric vehicle charging points at Wetherby Services.
Gridserve, a sustainable energy firm in Kirk Deighton, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for the scheme just off junction 46 of the A1(M).
Gridserve was granted planning permission in November 2021 to alter the service station car park to create an electric vehicle charging hub for 24 vehicles. The application also included the creation of 17 additional car parking spaces in a new parking area.
The hub was completed in July 2022 but is not yet in use.
The new proposal, which appeared on the council website this week, has downsized the scheme to 12 charging spaces — half as many as the previous application — and no longer includes a new parking area.
Gridserve is also seeking permission to install electrical equipment that would enable the charging bays to be activated.
The company said in a letter to the council:
“The development is similar to that previously granted permission at the site, but at a smaller scale and with the addition of detailed specification of supporting electrical infrastructure to allow operation of existing and future chargers.”
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The letter adds:
“Gridserve is implementing and building a network of high-power chargers across the country that will provide UK motorists with fast, easy and low carbon charging solutions.
“Many will be located at existing destinations such retail parks and garden centres and will allow customers to use those amenities whilst being able to access dependable charging infrastructure.”
It added the government had a target to deliver at least six high powered EV chargers at every motorway service area across England by 2023.
The charging bays will be situated at the most northerly area of the car park, next to to the Days Inn hotel.