Residents are being invited to have their say on proposals for a major 500MW solar project in the East Riding. The ‘Clean Air Solar Farm’ would be made up of two sites near Beverley.
Launched by partners PS Renewables and Ørsted Onshore, the solar farm would produce enough energy to power around 160,000 UK homes. The two sites would essentially ‘sandwich’ Beverley, with one to the north, and another to the southwest.
Full details of the Public Information Days
- Lockington Village Hall, Chapel St, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday, June 22: 15:00 – 19:00
- Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Tuesday, June 23: 15:00 – 19:00
- Walkington Village Hall, 17 E End, Walkington, Beverley HU17 8RX on Wednesday, June 24: 15:00 – 19:00
Local residents are invited to attend the Public Information Days to learn more about the plans and provide their feedback. An additional webinar will be held on Monday June, 29 at 19:00.
Randall Linfoot from the Clean Air Solar Farm team said about the Public Information Days: “From engineers to environmental specialists, we will be joined by project team members with different areas of expertise who will answer as many questions as possible. It is an important opportunity for us all to get to know the community better. I encourage anyone interested in the project to join us, or attend our webinar, to learn more about our plans and share their feedback.
“Following these events, we will run a phase of Statutory Consultation in the Autumn, including further in-person events. Here we will report back on how we have actioned the feedback received to date and how the proposals have evolved.”
Clean Air Solar Farm is launching a pre-application Community Benefit Fund with local partners the Two Ridings Community Foundation. The fund will award grants of up to £1,500 to local causes near the project. Applications for the first round are now open and can be made up until August 3.
On the fund, Mr Linfoot added: “We have launched a fund early as part of our commitment to leave a positive legacy at every step of the way. It is our ambition that for every year of Clean Air Solar Farm, from planning to decommissioning in many decades’ time, we will be contributing to local charities, voluntary organisations, and community groups to improve everyday life. Partnering with Two Ridings Community Foundation will ensure the fund is managed fairly and go to causes which will make a real difference to people near our project.”
The proposals have been denounced by solar campaign group ERASE (East Riding Against Solar Expansion). The group’s spokesperson, George McManus, said: ”This is a nightmare turning into a disaster. Beverley will now be completely surrounded by solar farms. The character of the area will change forever. These are long term proposals which future generations will inherit.
“I urge everyone to lobby the developers and express their opposition. Alternatives for solar panels could be used without devastating the countryside. Car parks, brownfield sites, airfields and housing should be used before green fields. People need to wake up to this before it’s too late. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
A planning decision is expected in 2028. If granted consent, Clean Air Solar Farm is expected to be operational by 2033.
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
