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: “As the proposed development is temporary, at the end of its productive lifetime, all infrastructure will be removed and land reinstated.
“As such any identified impacts are temporally limited and fully reversible.
“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 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 oystercatchers 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.
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