Mastercard bids for 779 solar panels at Harrogate offices

Mastercard has applied to put up 779 solar panels at its offices

Mastercard has put in a bid to erect 779 solar panels at offices in a Harrogate business park.

The company owns payment systems provider Vocalink, which has a base at Cardale Park, off Otley Road.

The planning application to North Yorkshire Council said, if approved, the panels could generate about 25% of all electricity on site.

However, concerns have been raised about the potential glare the solar panels could cause to drivers.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the building, which houses Mastercard's Harrogate data centre, was open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Therefore, Mastercard intended to reduce its emissions by producing "a significant amount of green energy".

Solar panels would be placed adjacent to the offices and the council had asked that a "glint and glare" assessment be provided to assess the potential impact on the surroundings.

The report concluded that, throughout the year, car drivers at Cardale Park and nearby residents would be subjected to "minor to moderate" distressful conditions from the solar panels.

It said the glare could be avoided with the help of mitigation measures, including planting hedgerows.

A design statement proposed fencing around the field to secure the site, which would be 2.4m (7.9ft) in height and green in colour.

However, it would be "largely screened from view", as a result of the proposed planting at the site.

A date has not yet been set to consider the plan.