Solar farm on green belt land set for approval
Plans for a solar farm in North Yorkshire which would be the size of at least 80 football pitches are expected to be approved despite concerns it would be built on protected green belt land.
Councillors at North Yorkshire Council are due to vote on the scheme, based at Hillam, near Selby, at a meeting on Tuesday after planning officers recommended it was given the go-ahead.
The 156 acre (63 hectare) site would provide enough energy to supply 17,000 homes and displace 107,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the proposals stated.
However, critics said the planned solar farm would cause "significant harm" to the green belt.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, nearby residents, community leaders and the CPRE, formerly the Campaign for the Protection of England, had all objected to the proposals.
CPRE North and East Yorkshire said the development, on Austfield Lane, would not conform to local or national planning policies.
It claimed the applicant sought to justify the proposal's location within the green belt as being essential to respond to the climate crisis.
But the charity said research it had commissioned from University College London had found that large-scale solar farms "are not actually required" to meet net zero targets.
"The very special circumstances put forward by the applicant in their planning statement do not trump the significant harm caused to the green belt," the organisation said in its objection.
Meanwhile, Hillam Parish Council also rejected the plans for the facility.
In its objection, the council said: "Over the past couple of years, the parish council has spent considerable public funds in planning-related disputes to preserve the green belt.
"If a development such as this were to go ahead, it would make a mockery of all the good work undertaken by parish councillors, local government councillors and Selby District Council."
The council received 36 objections to the proposals from local residents.
Among the issues cited were the impact on the character of the village and the surrounding landscape, the loss of good agricultural land and the scheme being proposed for the green belt.
But planning officers said any issues caused by the solar farm would be outweighed by the benefits.
If the application is approved at the meeting later, it would need to be signed off by the secretary of state due to it being on green belt land.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
North Yorkshire Council
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Slurry lagoon plans raise smell and access concern
Concerns have been raised over plans for a slurry lagoon in Cornwall. A Cornwall Council planning committee is set to review the application from Richard Best - which is seeking permission for an earth-banked slurry lagoon at a farm site in Hatt, near Saltash. The lagoon would provide up to five months of storage and lie approximately 280m (918.6ft) to the south west of the nearest neighbouring residential property, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The plans have been objected to by Botus Fleming Parish Council, which had concerns about the smell, potential contamination of a water course and highways impact. Slurry is a mixture of water and animal manure, which is spread on the land as a natural fertiliser. A council planning report said the scheme would not result in any significant adverse impacts to the living conditions currently enjoyed by neighbours and had been earmarked for approval. In its objection, Botus Fleming Parish Council said it was not clear how the slurry would be transported to the site. The land is just off the A388, but concerns about large tankers driving down narrow rural roads locally used by walkers, horse riders and other motorists were raised by the council. It added residents currently suffered from the stench of slurry across the wider farming site. "They suffer headaches and coughs from the air pollution that is generated around their homes, their eyes sting and they have good reasons to fear the long-term consequences for their health," the council said. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall An odour impact assessment had been submitted and the council's public protection team had raised no objections from a consultation. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust has also been consulted as the site is near the Villaton Wood County Wildlife Site, with the charity making recommendations to ensure wildlife is protected during construction. The Environment Agency (EA) had no objection to the plans, which it said would ensure the farm operated with sufficient storage for slurry. "Nonetheless, the proposal must operate in accordance with the relevant regulations," the agency added. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Warning as slurry pollutes stream near beach Cows rescued from slurry pit in Cornwall Shetland pony rescued from slurry pit Cornwall Council
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Slurry lagoon plans raise smell and access concern
Concerns have been raised over plans for a slurry lagoon in Cornwall. A Cornwall Council planning committee is set to review the application from Richard Best - which is seeking permission for an earth-banked slurry lagoon at a farm site in Hatt, near Saltash. The lagoon would provide up to five months of storage and lie approximately 280m (918.6ft) to the south west of the nearest neighbouring residential property, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The plans have been objected to by Botus Fleming Parish Council, which had concerns about the smell, potential contamination of a water course and highways impact. Slurry is a mixture of water and animal manure, which is spread on the land as a natural fertiliser. A council planning report said the scheme would not result in any significant adverse impacts to the living conditions currently enjoyed by neighbours and had been earmarked for approval. In its objection, Botus Fleming Parish Council said it was not clear how the slurry would be transported to the site. The land is just off the A388, but concerns about large tankers driving down narrow rural roads locally used by walkers, horse riders and other motorists were raised by the council. It added residents currently suffered from the stench of slurry across the wider farming site. "They suffer headaches and coughs from the air pollution that is generated around their homes, their eyes sting and they have good reasons to fear the long-term consequences for their health," the council said. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall An odour impact assessment had been submitted and the council's public protection team had raised no objections from a consultation. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust has also been consulted as the site is near the Villaton Wood County Wildlife Site, with the charity making recommendations to ensure wildlife is protected during construction. The Environment Agency (EA) had no objection to the plans, which it said would ensure the farm operated with sufficient storage for slurry. "Nonetheless, the proposal must operate in accordance with the relevant regulations," the agency added. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Warning as slurry pollutes stream near beach Cows rescued from slurry pit in Cornwall Shetland pony rescued from slurry pit Cornwall Council
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Residents oppose sheltered housing plan
Concerns have been raised over plans to turn a former care home into sheltered accommodation. New Walk CIC is turning the site on Burlam Road in Middlesbrough into supported housing for vulnerable individuals in the town. Some residents said there had been a lack of consultation, while others have raised fears about possible crime or anti-social behaviour. New Walk CIC said the site would have 24-hour staffing and it welcomed any constructive objections from residents, businesses and elected members. Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke said that as the care home already had a level of planning permission, a new planning application was not required for the sheltered accommodation. He said he found this "difficult", adding: "Regardless of the legalities around the planning requirements, it's up to the companies to make sure that they engage with the residents nearby and make sure that they do consultation openly." Local resident, Thelma Clark, 57, said the lack of consultation was "outrageous" and that she worried site would impact local house prices. Another, Eric Holland, 58, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was worried about an increase in burglaries in the area if the project went ahead. Jane Jorgensen, 62, said: "We should know what's on our doorstep." New Walk CIC said it had been working on the project since April 2023 and had been in extensive consultation with Middlesbrough Council over the plans. The location of the project was changed in June 2024 after a previous site fell through. "Support for the new location was secured from the local authority before proceeding," a spokesperson said. They said each resident would have a support worker and that the site would help vulnerable individuals. Middlesbrough Council said it was committed to helping homeless and vulnerable people and that there were was a need for more supported accommodation. "We are working closely with the provider at the new facility, who are committed to ensuring its residents engage with the wider community in a positive way," they said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Care home in special measures for breaching rules Middlesbrough Council New Walk CIC
