Massive solar farm set for approval despite parish council concerns

Lightrock Power has applied for permission to construct a solar farm that would generate up to 50 megawatts of energy on land just off of Crick Road in Yelvertoft. Solar farms of similar size generally have hundreds of thousands of panels installed that can generate enough renewable energy to power 15,000 homes.

The site would see a new vehicle entrance as well as a 23 metre high substation tower, control room, security fencing and CCTV built on the 80 hectare site.

Daventry District Council has received 118 representations from residents in the nearby villages, with 74 comments in support and 44 objections to the application. In addition, letters have been received from Yelvertoft Parish Council, Crick Parish Council and Lilbourne Parish Council strongly objecting to the application.

Yelvertoft Parish Council argues that there was ‘insufficient’ consultation, and had carried out their own research by dropping flyers at every home in the village – with 80 per cent of the responses opposed to the scheme.

It also argues: “The village is separated from the village of Crick by a narrow but precious corridor of fields that lies between them. In addition it forms a pleasant and pastoral barrier between DIRFT – the largest logistics development in the UK – and the rural village of Yelvertoft. This vast industrial solar development would remove that precious green buffer and its illogical position on the rise of the hill between Crick and Yelvertoft would cause serious, adverse detriment to the rural character of the village.”

But district council planning officers have concluded: “The proposal would alter and have a noticeable impact on the wider landscape and affect the character and setting of this part of Yelvertoft with Crick, however, the degree of harm is not considered to be significant and would not be sufficient to justify refusal of the application.”

The application had been submitted back in April 2020, but has been delayed in coming before the planning committee after trenching works confirmed the presence of archaeological remains such as prehistoric pottery and animal bones on five hectares of the site.

Members of the council’s planning committee will make a final decision on whether to follow officer advice and approve the scheme when they meet virtually on Wednesday next week (November 18).