Latest news with #solarfarm
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Stockton MP criticises approval of Byers Gill solar farm
An MP says he is "disappointed and angry" over a government decision to approve a large, £200m solar Matt Vickers, who represents Stockton West, has warned the Byers Gill Solar Farm near Darlington and Stockton will harm the local landscape."It will damage our rich tapestry of wildlife and biodiversity and could have a huge impact on our village communities and food security," Vickers government said it would reduce bills and provide energy security, while developer RWE said the facility would be removed at the end of its estimated 40-year lifespan. Vickers previously spoke against the solar farm during a House of Commons debate in 2024, as large swathes of nearby greenbelt land have been obtained by developers for solar to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the 180MW farm would be made up of several blocks of development located in Brafferton, Hauxley Farm, Byers Gill Wood, Great Stainton and two near said the development will cover about 490 hectares (1,211 acres) of land in total. Speaking after the government's decision to approved the plans, Vickers said: "Labour is so obsessed with net-zero and solar farms that they're happy to bulldoze through the views of local residents to push ahead with it."He claimed Labour "couldn't give a damn about the views of local people".But the energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "Families in the North East have seen their energy bills go through the roof as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices. "The only way to make British people better off in the long term is by securing clean, homegrown power that we control." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
New solar panels plan for agricultural fields near Selby
Plans for a large solar farm on agricultural land near Selby in North Yorkshire have been 49.99 MW scheme would be built on land to the east of the town at Newlands Farm, near the village of Development Consulting has submitted a scoping request to North Yorkshire Council for the authority to decide if an environmental impact assessment would need to be part of any future planning application for the company said in supporting documents that the site would comprise rows of fixed solar panels set out over 82.5 hectares of land, together with associated plant, cable routing and works. "The solar panels will be spaced to avoid shadow and elevated on an angled frame, supported by pile-driven stakes erected with minimal disturbance to the ground and sited to achieve optimum exposure for sunlight absorption," the documents stated."The photovoltaic panels will not emit noise, dust or vibration."The developer said the electricity generated from the scheme would feed directly into the local distribution stated the farm would be operational for a period of 50 years before being restored to agricultural land. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the documents added: "It is intended that the land will remain available for livestock to graze between the panels in order to retain an agricultural use."Existing hedgerows would be reinforced with native species to deliver improved habitats and ecological benefits whilst screening views into the site."Planning permission has already been granted for a similar development at nearby month, Quintas Cleantech submitted a similar request for a 49.9MW solar farm and battery energy storage scheme (BESS) on farmland between the villages of Cawood and same energy company also wants to build a 30MW solar farm, along with a BESS capable of storing up to 10MW of electricity, on farmland either side of the A163 Market Weighton Road at nearby other solar farms have been planned for the area, including the Helios scheme which would see a 190MW farm built on land near the village of Camblesforth, to the south of solar farms would take advantage of existing energy infrastructure from the Drax power station. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tunstall solar farm would have ‘no unacceptable environmental impacts'
A proposed solar farm on farmland in North Yorkshire would have no unacceptable environmental impacts and would deliver benefits including habitat creation and biodiversity net-gains, the developers behind the scheme say. A planning application has been submitted for a 23.5MW solar farm on land at East Appleton Farm, south of Tunstall, near Catterick Garrison. Applicants, Enviromena, say the scheme would produce enough renewable energy to power more than 11,000 homes a year. But local residents have questioned the benefits of the scheme and raised concerns about the environmental impact on their community. Supporting documents submitted with the application say the scheme would provide a 'clean, renewable, and sustainable form of electricity' and would make a valuable contribution towards national targets for carbon emission reduction and domestic energy security. The documents add: 'In addition to the significant benefits associated with the generation of renewable energy and carbon reduction ambitions, the proposed development would deliver further benefits in supporting job creation, economic development and significant biodiversity gains through habitat creation and ecological enhancements, which further weigh in favour of granting permission.' The applicants say the solar farm would be temporary with all infrastructure removed and land reinstated after 40 years. The solar panels would be 2.65m above ground level and angled at a tilt to optimise daylight absorption. Two substations would be built on the site, which would be surrounded by 1.9m high deer fencing and pole-mounted CCTV cameras. Trees and hedgerows within the site and adjacent to the site boundary would be safeguarded and retained, while existing public rights of way would also be kept, the supporting documents say. Construction access would be obtained via the existing field entrance off Catterick Lane, to the north of the site. Construction is estimated to take around 36 weeks. The planning application has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council. Several objections have been submitted so far. One local resident said: 'The area to be developed will have a significant and detrimental impact on a wide variety of rare and declining flora and fauna. 'Curlew and oyster catchers have bred and raised broods on this land over the last spring and summer.' Another member of the public pointed out that another solar farm already exists near Tunstall. They added: 'Loss of agricultural value is significant and the reports submitted are not reflective of what has actually been grown historically.' A Facebook group, Tunstall Solar Farm – A Deeper Look, has been launched by villagers to discuss the scheme.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for another large solar farm in North Yorkshire - to operate for 50 years
Details of another large solar farm planned for agricultural land near Selby have been announced. The 49.99MW scheme would be built on farmland to the east of the town at Newlands Farm, near the village of Cliffe. Lighthouse Development Consulting has submitted a scoping opinion request to North Yorkshire Council for the authority to decide if an environmental impact assessment would need to be submitted with any future planning application for the green energy development. The company said in supporting documents that the solar farm would comprise rows of fixed solar panels set out over 82.5 hectares of land, together with associated plant, cable routing and works. It added: 'The solar panels will be spaced to avoid shadow and elevated on an angled frame, supported by pile-driven stakes erected with minimal disturbance to the ground and sited to achieve optimum exposure for sunlight absorption. 'The photovoltaic panels will not emit noise, dust or vibration.' The developer said the electricity generated from the scheme would feed directly into the local distribution grid. 'The development would be operational for a period of 50 years after which the site will be returned to agriculture; accordingly, the proposals are fully reversible. 'It is intended that the land will remain available for livestock to graze between the panels in order to retain an agricultural use. 'Existing hedgerows would be reinforced with native species to deliver improved habitats and ecological benefits whilst screening views into the site.' RECOMMENDED READING: Campaigners to add heat to campaign against solar farms Financial uncertainty poses risks to building York green energy plant in phases £700,000 grant to fund solar panel installations across region The solar scheme is the latest in a growing list of solar farms planned for the Selby area. Planning permission has already been granted for a development at nearby Osgodby. Last month, Quintas Cleantech submitted a scoping opinion request for a 49.9MW solar farm and battery energy storage scheme (BESS) on farmland between the villages of Cawood and Wistow. The same energy company also wants to build a 30MW solar farm, along with a BESS capable of storing up to 10MW of electricity, on farmland either side of the A163 Market Weighton Road at nearby Barlby. Several other solar farms have been planned for the area, including the Helios scheme which would see a 190MW farm built on land near the village of Camblesforth, to the south of Selby. The solar farms would take advantage of existing energy infrastructure from the Drax power station.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Green light given to £200m solar farm
A £200m solar farm has been approved by the government. Byers Gill Solar Farm, which will have several sites between Darlington and Stockton, has been granted a development consent order, which is required for nationally significant infrastructure projects. Some residents had previously argued the development would devastate communities, dominate the landscape and diminish farmland. Developer RWE has been approached for comment. The 50MW farm, which will be made up of several blocks of development, will be located in Brafferton, Hauxley Farm, Byers Gill Wood, Great Stainton, and two near Bishopton. RWE has said the development, which will cover about 490 hectares (1,211 acres) of land in total, will have a lifespan of 40 years after which it will be removed. Bishopton resident Norman Mullaney previously said there were fears the solar farm could make people "prisoners" in the village. "There is a large amount of anxiety and anguish about the impact of the poorly-located solar farm," he said. "The size of the development is a major concern." In a document detailing its recommendation, the Planning Inspectorate said it had given "great weight" to the "residual significant adverse landscape and visual effects" that may be caused by the farm when considering the plans. It said some of the plans would "alter" Bishopton's "unobstructed country view" to one that would be "dominated at points" by landscape screening, such as hedgerows. It also said the developer would be providing a "community benefit fund" worth about £1.5m over the solar farm's lifespan, which would be spend on things such as electric vehicle charging points, rooftop solar panels and picnic benches. The energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said that approving the plans was "another step forward" in the government's mission to make the country a "clean energy superpower". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More stories from BBC North East and Cumbria Giant solar farm plans set for public hearing Campaigners step up opposition to solar farm Related internet links Byers Gill
