North Yorkshire Solar Farm Plan Approved Despite Flood Concerns

A proposal for a substantial solar energy facility to be constructed in North Yorkshire has received approval, notwithstanding objections from inhabitants of adjacent communities who fear it might exacerbate local flooding. The solar panels are planned for a 66-hectare parcel of land situated to the east of Wormald Green, close to Ripon. Harmony WG Solar Limited, the project’s applicant, states that the installation is projected to produce sufficient electricity annually to supply 12,000 households. The proposal also incorporates the construction of an access route originating from the A61. Councillor Keith Townson indicated that the frequency of flooding in the neighboring village of Burton Leonard has increased in recent years, and he believes the solar farm would intensify this issue. Addressing North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee, Townson conveyed that local residents do not oppose the fundamental concept of solar farms. However, he stated: “Water, even in just normal rainfall let alone the storms that we recently experienced, will not just drip off the bottom panels but will stream off the total length of all these rows of solar units.” He added that “Flooding will be worse in a village already hit by crisis flooding.” He further elaborated on the historical context of flooding in Burton Leonard, noting: “In the 1970s, Burton Leonard flooded once or twice a year. We now have four or five major floods and it’s getting worse at an increasing rate.” According to Townson, residents also expressed the sentiment that agricultural land ought to be utilized for food production. Frances Nicholson, who serves as the development director at Harmony Energy, reported that the local flood authority determined the solar farm would not exacerbate flooding locally, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Nicholson affirmed that the project is expected to “make a significant contribution to securing our homegrown energy supply and will provide £40m of supply chain contracts, all contributing to high-skilled jobs and UK taxes”. Councillor Andy Brown commented during the meeting that achieving a “difficult” equilibrium was necessary. He articulated this challenge by stating: “On one level we’re saying we’re getting flooding in the villages because of climate change and on another level we’re saying we need solar panels.”