'Extremely serious' concerns raised over solar farm

The proposed Green Hill Solar Farm facility would cover about 1,200 hectares of land across Northamptonshire

A councillor has raised "extremely serious" concerns over plans to build a solar farm on farmland.

The proposed Green Hill facility would cover about 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres) of land south and west of Wellingborough and north of Northampton.

John Slope, Reform UK councillor for the Moulton ward on West Northamptonshire Council said: "It is an industrial-scale development that will devastate our landscape, threaten our food security and put our rural communities at risk."

Green Hill said the plant's maximum output of 500 MW would power more than 115,000 homes and was necessary to help the UK reach its net-zero targets.

The plans were discussed by members of West Northamptonshire Council

Classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the development would be decided by the government rather than local authorities.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, other councillors also highlighted concerns over the loss of farmland, visual impact and the potential for further expansion, if approved.

Fourteen parish councils have also submitted objections.

Slope added: "This is an extremely serious thing that we are looking at today.

"I urge colleagues to stand with residents and send a strong message to the Secretary of State that West Northamptonshire will not be a dumping ground for oversized, subsidy-driven solar farms."

The Planning Inspectorate is expected to begin its examination in October, lasting six months, before a recommendation is made.

According to its website, the Green Hill Solar Farm wants to provide electricity to people's homes by 2029.