Planning consent has been granted for a major solar farm in East Riding. Peartree Hill Solar Farm will be located to the east of Beverley.
Such is its scale, it would generate enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent needs of 230,000 homes, according to applicant RWE. The 320MW solar farm site will cover 891 hectares of land near the settlements of Tickton, Meaux, and Weel – the equivalent of 1,500 football pitches, or an area large enough to fit the Vatican City in 18 times over.
A group representing anti-solar farm campaigners in East Riding has vowed to fight on in opposition to it. George McManus, spokesperson for ERASE (East Riding Against Solar Expansion), says they are considering what options are available and will discuss with interested parties.
Because the scheme is for a solar farm that would have power capacity of over 50MW, the decision has not been made at East Riding Council level. Instead, it has required a development consent order (DCO), a process that goes through the planning inspectorate and ends with ultimate sign-off by a Government minister. In this case, the final decision was made by energy security and net zero minister, Lord Alan Whitehead, on behalf of the Secretary of State, Ed Miliband.
The project will connect to the national electricity network via underground cables to Creyke Beck Substation. A battery energy storage system (BESS) is also included in the plans.
The scheme includes more than 50 per cent biodiversity net gain, including a new wildflower meadow and tree planting. There will also be up to 12 kilometres of new permissive paths, picnic areas, educational features and potential outdoor classrooms to improve public access and encourage learning about biodiversity and renewable energy.
Linked to the scheme, there will be an independently managed community benefit fund, totalling up to £4.2m over the solar farm’s lifespan of 40 years. This will support local initiatives and community projects, with funding decisions informed by local representatives.
Nadine Janecke, chief development director at RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said: “Securing development consent for the Peartree Hill solar project is an important milestone and reflects the collaborative work undertaken with local communities, stakeholders and our project team. The project has the potential to provide reliable, renewable power while delivering meaningful benefits for the local area through investment in biodiversity, public access and community funding.”
The Peartree Hill Solar Farm is controversial. East Riding Council’s planning committee made a submission, stating they would have refused it, had they had the power.
Cllr David Nolan (Labour – Hessle Ward) dubbed it a “monstrous mega sprawl of industrial panels”. Grassroots group ERASE (East Riding Against Solar Expansion) formed in opposition to the likes of Peartree Hill Solar Farm.
Mr McManus said, “It’s just devastating and terribly sad to think of this beautiful landscape being covered in plastic, glass and concrete. Individual lives will be devastated and collectively we will all lose much loved, natural amenities.”
He stated ERASE had “made every effort” to engage constructively with developers and officials. But he asserted entreaties had been ignored, and that “a whole series of outstanding issues including safety and cumulative impact have still not been addressed”.
Mr McManus added: “This landscape is too precious to be surrendered to people whose only motivation is making money. So we won’t surrender without a fight. We’re not ready to throw in the towel.”
Last month, councillors passed a motion effectively making clear their frustration at the number of large-scale solar farms proposed in East Riding. It also committed the council to producing a guide for residents on how to engage in DCO planning matters, where the local authority does not have the final say.
Now that development consent has been granted, RWE will progress activities needed to inform the next phase of development, with further updates as the project advances. Since Labour came to power in July 2024, a total of 29 significant clean power energy projects have been approved.
A solar farm in Cumbria received development consent on the same day as Peartree Hill. “We are driving further and faster for clean homegrown power that we control to protect the British people and bring down bills for good,” said Energy Minister Michael Shanks.
“It is crucial we learn the lessons of the conflict in the Middle East – solar is one of the cheapest forms of power available and is how we get off the rollercoaster of international fossil fuel markets and secure our own energy independence.”
By: Ivan Morris Poxton, LDRS
