Approved: Huge solar farm in North Yorkshire
But the agricultural land will also still host grazing sheep
Councillors on North Yorkshire’s strategic planning committee this morning approved plans for a huge solar farm across 66 hectares of land.
The meeting heard that there had been local objections (38) but also support (5) for the plans near the villages of Wormald Green, Bishop Monkton and Burton Leonard.
The scheme could provide enough energy to power 12,000 homes and will save 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emmissions.
As well as ground-mounted solar panels, the plans from from Harmony WG Solar Limited include access to the A61, internal access tracks, a substation, two power stations, pole mounted CCTV, fencing and landscaping.
In support of the approval, councillors heard that sheep will be able to graze beneath the panels and there would be a gain in both biodiversity and soil quality.
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