Crick and Yelvertoft solar farm given planning permission

Planning permission was approved for the solar farm by eight votes to six

A large solar farm labelled as "abhorrent" by a local councillor has been given planning permission.

Daventry District Council approved plans for the site, across 11 fields between the Northamptonshire villages of Crick and Yelvertoft.

The solar farm could generate enough energy to power 15,000 homes.

A councillor who voted in favour of it said he hoped residents would "recognise that we are facing a climate emergency".

Both parish councils had strongly objected to the plans by Lightrock Power, which include a 23m (75ft) high substation tower.

Speaking at the planning meeting on Wednesday, chairman of Crick Parish Council, Jill Jamieson, said they were "firm supporters" of green initiatives but the harm to the landscape outweighed the benefits.

According told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, most councillors on the committee admitted conflicting thoughts over the climate emergency the council had declared and the farm's impact on residents.

'Blot on the landscape'

It was approved by eight votes to six, and councillor Ken Ritchie, who voted in favour, said: "I know that if I lived in Yelvertoft or Crick that I would wish this project was being planned somewhere else.

"But I hope I would also recognise that we are facing a climate emergency. If we were to turn down this project it would be exceptionally bad."

However, councillor Ian Robertson said the farm was "abhorrent" and would be a "blot on the landscape", while Catherine Lomax said it was the "right thing but in the wrong place".

At the meeting, the Yelvertoft Parish Council representative, Lisa Parker, told councillors that approved the scheme: "May God have mercy on your soul."