Battle lines are being drawn as residents prepare to fight plans to build a huge solar energy scheme in the North Yorkshire countryside.
A new campaign group, Rooftops Not Countryside – North Yorkshire Against Light Valley Solar, held its first meeting this week as it looks to raise awareness of Island Green Power’s aim to build a 500MW solar scheme between York and Selby.
Light Valley Solar would consist of seven solar farms on 1,020 hectares of land between the villages of Escrick, Monk Fryston, Hambleton, Chapel Haddlesey and South Milford.
Further land would be used for underground cabling to connect the sites to the national grid at Monk Fryston substation.
A 500MW battery energy storage system (BESS) is also proposed as part of the development.
Light Valley would be larger than the biggest solar scheme currently operational — Cleave Hill in Kent.
The developer says the scheme would provide enough power for 115,000 homes a year.
Due to the size of the proposed development, the scheme has been declared a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, meaning planning permission will be decided by the national Planning Inspectorate, rather than North Yorkshire Council.
The developer has recently completed a second consultation exercise and expects to submit a development consent order in a bid to obtain approval early next year.
Campaigners are dismayed at the size of the scheme and are determined to highlight the strength of feeling against the plans.
South Milford resident Louise Billingham, spokesperson for Rooftops Not Countryside, said: “‘We have formed the action group as we are extremely concerned about the scale and impact of the proposals and the lack of genuine consultation or involvement of local people.
“We want to raise awareness of what the proposals will entail, share easy-to-understand information with local people, and ultimately to stop Light Valley Solar’s plans in their current form.”
Louise said the group was planning to produce banners to run the 13 miles between the solar sites, as well as holding events such as dog walks to ensure local residents were aware of the scheme.
“At this time, residents, parish councils etc have six weeks to register as an ‘interested party’ via the planning portal, so that they can then submit their formal objections and raise issues with the plans.
“The planning inspectorate will look at the plans in the context of these submissions. The planning inspectorate will then either recommend or oppose the plans, which will then go to Ed Miliband who will have the final say.
“Our aim is to use the next six months to raise as much awareness as possible as it’s apparent that people don’t know what’s going on.”
The green energy developer behind the plans says the scheme would provide up to 500MW of “low-carbon, affordable, and dependable electricity to the grid, supporting necessary climate commitments at both regional and national levels”.
Supporting documents add: “The project will play an active role in supporting the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, which drives the region’s transition toward a low-carbon economy.
“In particular, the York and North Yorkshire Routemap to Carbon Negative outlines an ambitious path to achieve carbon neutrality by 2034 and for the region to become carbon negative by 2040.
“Light Valley Solar will contribute directly to reaching these vital milestones. The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is focused on positioning the region as a leader in net-zero ambitions, maximising biodiversity improvements and driving growth and innovation in the renewable energy sector.
“Light Valley Solar would greatly contribute to achieving these three regional priorities.”
The developer said Light Valley Solar also aligned with North Yorkshire Council’s Climate Change Strategy, which aims to install an additional 2,500MW of solar, onshore wind, and hydropower capacity by 2038.
