Objectors feared impact on wildlife, heritage assets and public rights of way of new solar farm near Knaresborough
A decision on plans for a controversial new solar farm and battery energy storage plant near a Knaresborough village has been put off.
North Yorkshire Council officers had recommended that councillors approve the scheme to construct Percy Beck Solar Farm on land at Lawrence House Farm at Scotton to address clean energy targets.
But councillors opted to defer a vote in order for officers to get more detailed legal advice, based on a number of late submissions.
Planning officers had previously concluded that, on balance, the benefits of the renewable energy output outweighed concerns regarding the loss of agricultural land, heritage settings, and visual impact.
But 244 objections were lodged by residents, with Stop Scotton Solar Farm collecting more than 600 signatures on a petition against the scheme.
Objectors had highlighted fears over the loss of productive farmland, the industrialisation of the countryside, traffic during construction, fire risks associated with the battery energy storage system, impacts on wildlife, heritage assets and nearby public rights of way.
Objections were also made by Knaresborough Town Council and four parish councils, as well as the council’s landscape and conservation officers and Historic England.
The site involves nearly 100 hectares or 226 acres of agricultural land located off Low Moor Lane.
The applicant, Boom Power, claimed the development would generate about 47.8 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, enough to power around 13,450 homes annually, while avoiding an estimated 9,913 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year compared with fossil fuels.
The application has already been subject to several amendments, including moving the construction access away from Scotton Lingerfield Primary School following public objections and removing solar panels from several fields to reduce heritage impacts.
About 83 per cent of the site is classed as best and most versatile agricultural land.
But officers say the solar farm would only be temporary, operating for 40 years, with sheep continuing to graze beneath the panels throughout its lifetime.
As well as Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon’s opposition to the scheme, recent months also saw Tory peer Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate speaking out against the plans.