Green light given to £200m solar farm

Byers Gill solar farm will have a lifespan of 40 years

A £200m solar farm has been approved by the government.

Byers Gill Solar Farm, which is planned for several sites between Darlington and Stockton, has been granted a development consent order, which is required for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Some residents had previously argued the development would devastate communities, dominate the landscape and diminish farmland.

Developer RWE said the plans could support the "UK's energy security ambitions".

It is understood a final decision by the developer to go ahead with the project is unlikely to be made for at least a year.

The 180MW farm, which would be made up of several blocks of development, would be located in Brafferton, Hauxley Farm, Byers Gill Wood, Great Stainton, and two near Bishopton.

RWE has said the development, which will cover about 490 hectares (1,211 acres) of land in total, will have a lifespan of 40 years after which it will be removed.

Byers Gill Solar Farm is made up of several blocks of development

Bishopton resident Norman Mullaney previously said there were fears the solar farm could make people "prisoners" in the village.

"There is a large amount of anxiety and anguish about the impact of the poorly-located solar farm," he said. "The size of the development is a major concern."

In a document detailing its recommendation, the Planning Inspectorate said it had given "great weight" to the "residual significant adverse landscape and visual effects" that may be caused by the farm when considering the plans.

It said some of the plans would "alter" Bishopton's "unobstructed country view" to one that would be "dominated at points" by landscape screening, such as hedgerows.

It also said the developer would be providing a "community benefit fund" worth about £1.5m over the solar farm's lifespan, which would be spend on things such as electric vehicle charging points, rooftop solar panels and picnic benches.

The energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said that approving the plans was "another step forward" in the government's mission to make the country a "clean energy superpower".