Plans for solar farm on Vale of York green belt

Plans to build a large solar farm and battery energy storage scheme (BESS) on green belt land near York have been submitted.

Developer Anesco wants to build a 49.98 MW solar farm and 43 MW BESS on farmland at Overton Grange, between Skelton and Beningbrough.

The company said the development would be capable of powering more than 13,500 homes and could help save more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

A full application has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council and a consultation process is underway with a deadline for comments of 14 July.

Supporting documents submitted with the scheme claim there are no unacceptable harmful effects associated with the proposed development, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The report adds: "Any limited impacts are overwhelmingly outweighed by the benefits related to the development, most notably the positive environmental impacts associated with renewable energy deployment and at a local level by the biodiversity enhancements.

"The proposed development represents sustainable development which accords with the development plan."

The applicant said the scheme would "positively enhance" the green belt through ecological and landscape enhancements, which would retain the existing field boundary hedgerows and tree cover.

According to the papers, badgers have been found on the site and a temporary sett closure licence would be obtained from Natural England if necessary.

Gaps would also be left at the bottom of the perimeter fencing for badgers, hares and hedgehogs to use.

Anesco is described in the documents as a leader in renewable energy, which has designed and built some of the country's largest solar and battery farms.

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