Earnings · Economy 51
Plans for a solar farm on agricultural land in North Yorkshire have been recommended for approval despite concerns from residents about the loss of productive farmland. Ampyr Solar Europe is seeking permission to build and operate a 49.9MW solar farm on 235 acres (75 ha) land at Brownmoor Lane, south-west of Sutton-on-the-Forest. The development would include ground-mounted solar panels up to three metres high (10ft), a 10MW battery energy storage system, a new substation, access tracks, fencing and CCTV.
North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee are due to consider the application on 13 October, with planning officers recommending permission is granted. Nine objections have been received, with concerns including the loss of agricultural land, the impact on a tenant farming business and whether solar panels should instead be installed on brownfield sites and buildings. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service , Huby Parish Council said in its objection that solar farms "should not be built on arable land" only on "brownfield sites and existing commercial and domestic roofs".
Concerns were also been raised about the effect on the countryside and biodiversity, construction traffic and whether the scheme prioritised commercial interests over food production and the landscape. However, planning officers concluded the agricultural impact did not justify refusing permission. They also highlighted that the development would be temporary and reversible.
Permission has been sought for a 50-year operational period, after which the infrastructure would be removed and the land returned to agricultural use. Although arable production would cease during that period, sheep grazing could continue beneath and between the solar panels. The council report stated that the development's location was also influenced by the need to be close to a suitable electricity grid connection.
Officers concluded the public benefits of producing renewable energy outweighed the residual harm caused by the development.
Source: BBC
