Solar farm 'size of 115 football pitches' opposed

Residents said the solar farm would be too close to Gleaston village

A residents' group has opposed plans for a solar farm the size of 115 football pitches.

Innova Renewables Developments Limited submitted a planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council for a 203-acre (82-hectare) solar farm and energy storage system on land near Riddings Lane in Gleaston, in south Cumbria.

But Riddings Lane Solar Farm Action Group said the site would be "too industrialised" for the countryside, and raised concerns over noise during construction and from the battery storage.

The planning application said there would be "moderate to minor" impacts on the landscape character which would be "minimised" by a landscaping scheme.

A spokesperson for the resident's group said: "We're not against solar power, we just think there's more appropriate places for it, such as brownfield sites."

The group also claimed the solar farm would be seen for "miles around" due to the slope of the land and said there were concerns about how close the site was to Gleaston.

The spokesperson said: "I think the close proximity to the village is concerning to residents.

"The fact that there will be noise, not just in construction, but the continued noise from the battery storage."

Energy security concerns

More than 40 objections were submitted to the local authority, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Planning documents submitted by the applicant said operational noise from the solar farm would be "low".

It added the farm would help provide energy security, which had become a "significant concern" for the government since the invasion of Ukraine.

During construction, there would be about 28 deliveries a day, plans added.

The land is currently marked as grade three agricultural land, meaning it is of "moderate quality", according to Natural England's Regional Maps.

Planning documents said the proposed development would take nine months to build and would have a lifespan of 40 years.

The applicant stated that after this period the land would be returned to its former use.

This planning application is undergoing public consultation until 4 May.