Latest news with #solarfarm
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Wiltshire's new council leader calls solar plans 'monstrosity'
A new council leader has called proposals for a 2,000 acre solar farm "a monstrosity that is a step too far". Councillor Ian Thorn, Liberal Democrat leader of Wiltshire Council since May, told the BBC he is "very concerned" about the controversial plans for the Lime Down Solar Park on farmland in the north of the previous Conservative administration was also against it, but the application will be decided by the government due to it's have been protesting outside Wiltshire Council on Tuesday - developers Island Green Power (ICP) have always said it would power 115,000 homes. The company said the project would "support national and regional aims to decarbonise our electricity systems and bolster our energy security".ICP finished a consultation earlier this month and hopes to submit a planning application in September. Thorn said: "We're not talking about an everyday solar farm. It will have an enormous, irreparable effect on our county."While the authority will not make the final decision, he said the council will be feeding back and sharing it's views."We are supportive of renewable energy, of traditional solar farms, but this is a monstrosity that is a step too far," he said. Many agree - plenty were stood outside Wiltshire Council's HQ, County Hall in Trowbridge, Michael Pitt from Stop Lime Down Solar Park said: "People are very passionate - right from day one when it was first announced, there was an eruption of anger about the proposals. "We are supporters of solar but it has to be in the right place. It has to be in places that don't damage the environment." Richard Skeffington, a retired environmental scientist and professor, is also against the project: "I never knew they were contemplating something so silly as this."He said his main worry is in relation to large battery fields where the energy would be stored. He explained that while fires are rare, they were "devastating" when they do said: "They can't be put out so they have to leave them to burn out. "They release toxic gases. They wet the adjacent batteries so they don't set on fire and that gets into he groundwater." Lesley Bennet is a local resident and supports the said: "I think it's really good. We're lucky we have a suitable site and build something that will improve the world for our grandchildren."I'm certain it'll do good. We want to produce our own energy and be independent." She mentioned it will allow alternative species to thrive and give land a rest from ploughing."This isn't the whole countryside - it's only a part of the countryside. I would be against it if it was - but it isn't," she said. The solar park would be spread across six locations around Hullavington, Stanton St Quintin, Sherston, and would be connected to the National Grid's Melksham substation through underground cabling – which would have to be channelled under the have said it was "grateful for all the feedback received from members of the public and interested parties during our statutory consultation and the recent targeted consultation". The company said it was considering feedback as they refine the plans before submitting to the Planning Inspectorate. As the capacity of the proposed development is over 50 megawatts, the project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure government's energy security department has said solar farms cover 0.1% of the land area in the UK, "while bringing huge benefits for the British public and our energy security".The department said there is a rigorous planning process."Solar is at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower," it reporting from Local Democracy Reporter, Peter Davison.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Proposals for solar farm near Catterick Garrison
Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a new solar farm on farmland near Catterick development would have no unacceptable environmental impacts and would deliver "benefits in supporting job creation, economic development and significant biodiversity gains", according to applicants 23.5MW solar farm on land at East Appleton Farm, south of Tunstall, would produce energy for 11,000 homes per year, they residents, however, raised concerns about the environmental impact on their community. One 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."According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, another member of the public said a solar farm already existed near Tunstall. Planning documents stated that habitats would be created as part of the development, with other "ecological enhancements" also and hedgerows adjacent to the site would be protected, while existing rights of way would be kept, they proposed solar panels would be more than eight feet (2.65m) from the ground and angled at a tilt, they electrical substations would also be created, surrounded by 6ft (1.9m) fencing and CCTV documents added that the solar farm would be temporary, with all infrastructure removed after 40 years, and the land was estimated to take around 36 weeks, they said.A number of objections have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Solar farm near Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield approved
A solar farm will be built close to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park after councillors approved the will be installed across 55 hectares of countryside, including some around 500m from the outdoor tourist attraction near West Bretton, than 170 people objected to the proposal, with many citing the potential impact on the appearance of the Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee voted in favour of the application, submitted by Boom Power, by a majority of six to one. Under the plans, the solar panels would be split across two is close to a conservation area near the village of Woolley, while the other is off Haigh Lane, which is close to the M1 motorway and the sculpture concerns included the potential loss of wildlife habitats, loss of agricultural land and a flood risk being created, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Ian White, of Woolley Parish Council, said the proposals would have a "significant impact" on said: "This is one of the last scenic and undeveloped areas in the Wakefield district."It's home to Yorkshire Sculpture Park , one of Wakefield's outstanding cultural and recreational tourist attractions of national repute."This is the first step in the destruction of one of Wakefield's most attractive areas."But Boom Power said the project would produce enough renewable energy to power 11,700 family homes a Spurway, representing the applicant, said: "Impacts both positive and negative have been taken into consideration."The positives of the scheme have been shown to outweigh the negatives."The way we generate our electricity in this country is changing. The use of fossil fuels is being phased out."The Yorkshire Sculpture Park opened in 1977 at a 500-acre plot surrounding Bretton Hall, which was a teacher training college at the time before closing in the year it was revealed the world-famous Groucho Club - a private members' club famed for hosting A-list celebrities - would move into the vacant property in 2026. It will be its first premises outside London. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Solar farm near Canterbury given green light
Plans to build a solar farm the size of 78 football pitches on the edge of a village in Kent have been company Renewable Connections has been given permission by Canterbury City Council (CCC) to build a solar facility, alongside a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).Covering 56 hectares of land, the Britton Court Solar project near Tyler Hill will supply renewable energy to up to 15,000 homes, reported the Local Democracy Reporting residents have told BBC South East they think solar panels might tarnish the character of the area. Once complete, the array will have an output of up to 38 megawatts (MW), equivalent to the "annual energy needs of up to 15,164 homes," the developers BESS would be able to store up to 30MW of solar energy to be deployed into the grid when needed. Julie Hill, who lives in Canterbury, said she was broadly in favour of renewable energy but not on said: "It's not right to use farmland for solar panels, they should first be on the roofs of all public buildings like hospitals and schools. "We need to be more forward-thinking for the next generation."Another local, June, said the character of the area would be destroyed if the solar farm building work goes ahead."There's already lots of new homes being built locally. We moved out to the countryside for a quieter life and it seems we may now be losing it," she said. Michael Hughes, chief executive officer at Renewable Connections, said: "Once operational, the project will help to tackle the climate emergency in Kent, supplying renewable energy to up to 15,000 homes."The site itself will see a biodiversity uplift of over one hundred percent as a result of implementing a package of landscape, ecological, and biodiversity benefits."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Major Friston solar farm could be built alongside substation
A "nationally significant" solar farm could potentially be built alongside a planned substation in a Solar 12 (Helios Energy Park) Ltd has proposed constructing a 250 megawatt solar farm and battery site near Friston, Suffolk, which will be decided upon by the government. According to the company's application it would be built in the vicinity of a substation due to be constructed as part of National Grid's Sea Link project and offshore windfarms by ScottishPower. Suffolk County Council said it would be a "nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP)" and "difficult news" for people living in the area. The government gave planning permission for the substation in 2022. If Scottish Power does not build the site, it will fall to National Grid as it works through the planning process for Sea for the solar farm were revealed within documents for the Sea Link project. The documents added Helios was looking to work with the National Grid on the Sea Link project and help it "realise its own ambitions for the wider Suffolk geography".Plans for the solar farm are in early stages and the applicant has yet to finalise said a "draft statement of common ground" was being worked on between itself and Sea Link. Suffolk County Council said it would carefully consider the "potential cumulative implications" of the solar farm on the local community and environment. Richard Rout, the cabinet member for devolution, local government reform and NSIP on the authority, said the council would "object to plans where justified"."We knew that National Grid's official register of connection offers had indicated the Helios proposal, but that potential now feels more real," he said."National Grid's customers must not damage or weaken the mitigation planting in the consented scheme," he added. A Helios Energy Park spokesperson said: "Our plans for a new solar project with battery storage near Friston, East Suffolk will help to meet growing demand for sustainable power while improving the resilience and capacity of the national grid."We are working with other developers in the area, including Sea Link, to ensure we co-ordinate all development activities including mitigation measures. "We are looking forward to engaging comprehensively with the community around Friston and east Suffolk once we have draft plans to present." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
