Fears over Light Valley Solar Scheme between York and Selby

Objectors today (Wednesday, July 29) gave evidence at a public hearing held by the Planning Inspectorate, which will decide whether to allow the 500MW Light Valley Solar Scheme.

Island Green Power UK Ltd is seeking a development consent order application for a network of seven solar farms on 1,020 hectares of land between the villages of Escrick, Monk Fryston, Hambleton, Chapel Haddlesey and South Milford, between York and Selby.

A local plan for the proposed solar scheme. Image: Light Valley Solar.

A 500MW battery energy storage system (BESS) is proposed as part of the development, as well as underground cabling to connect the sites to the national grid at Monk Fryston substation.

Hearings are taking place at The Parsonage Hotel and Spa, at Escrick, this week as the Planning Inspectorate’s examination of the plans gets underway.

The panel of three planning inspectors heard from some of the residents, parish councils and campaign groups which have raised concerns about the scheme.

Councillor Ceri Carter, from South Milford Parish Council, who also represented 13 other parish councils, told the hearing: “While we support the transition to renewable energy and understand the need for the country’s energy security, we ask the examining authority to recognise the disproportionate burden this scheme places on our communities.”

Describing the design of the scheme as “fragmented”, Cllr Carter added: “It is our opinion that this project could have been better designed to significantly reduce the amount of land sacrificed, thereby lessening the impact on communities.”

Councillor Shaun Hughes, from Monk Fryston Parish Council, said: “The primary objection for us is that it’s such a large, encompassing installation that almost every view into and out from the parish will be affected by this proposed development.

“This proposal, when combined with other consented schemes, will significantly alter the character and the landscape that surrounds our settlement such that it can no longer be regarded as a rural location.”

Resident Clare Hodgekiss said her home would be completely surrounded by the development.

She said: “At what cost to my physical and mental health is my family home surrounded by solar panels on all sides?

“Whatever I see from my house — the back, the middle, the front — I will just see solar panels and nothing else. This will have a monumental impact on the rest of my life if it goes ahead. How can surrounding a property on all sides be considered proportional, just and fair?”

Louise Billingham, from the campaign group Rooftops Not Countryside, told the panel that the scheme “would industrialise the area for generations to come”.

Louise Billingham, from Rooftops Not Countryside, speaks at the hearing.

She added: “The benefits of the development are presented at a national level, but the harms are concentrated locally: increased construction traffic on rural roads and country lanes, permanent changes to the character of our rural villages and countryside, loss of open green space and tranquillity, disruption to walking, cycling and riding routes, and the psychological impact of living beside, or within, large-scale electrical infrastructure.”

Matthew Fox, from law firm Pinsent Masons, spoke on behalf of the applicant.

He said they recognised the strength of feeling from local residents, adding: ” I want to just emphasise that there were points made around the applicant making sure they consider the human impact.

“I know views differ on this, but I wanted to emphasise that the applicant has thought to consider those aspects.”

The proposed solar scheme will provide enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 115,000 homes annually, the applicants say.