Plans for a new solar energy farm in fields south of Lancaster have been approved despite objections from residents.
Plans had been submitted for a new solar farm, three substations, cables, CCTV and security fencing for land south of Burrow Beck, Bailrigg Lane, which have been approved by Lancaster City Council, who also own the land.
A site visit was held in respect of the application last week, ahead of the planning regulatory committee discussing the proposal earlier this week.
Paul Holland, representing Scotforth Parish Council & Bailrigg Village Residents Association, spoke against the application, while Richard Wooldridge, of HPA Chartered Architects responded in favour, on behalf of the applicant.
Upon being put to the vote, thirteen Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and one abstention, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried, with permission granted for the scheme, with a number of conditions, including that the colour of the substations to be dark green.
The plans will see solar panels installed across the circa 6.5ha site area, to produce 4MW of sustainable energy, with three associated substations within the site.
The panels will measure between one metre and 2.55 metres above the ground level, measuring approximately 3.8 metres long front to back, and separated by circa 4.66 metres between lines of panels within the site.
All installations are over eight metres from the Burrow Beck. Security cameras would be attached to up-to six-metre-tall posts, and plans propose two-metre-tall wire mesh security fencing.
The parish council had said this was the "wrong location for this development" and the solar farm would create "visual harm to a gateway location into Lancaster and Bailrigg".
They added there would be "harmful impact of construction traffic on Bailrigg residents, their visitors and upon trees/hedges along Bailrigg Lane" and "adverse glint/glare impact upon student residents", as well as concerns over flooding.
The residents association has said there was a "lack of construction management information" as "residents need to know how they will be able to go about their daily lives during construction".
A council report on the application stated: "Whilst there are several limited harm impacts identified, which cumulatively weigh against the proposal, the cumulative social, economic and environmental benefits of a renewable energy development on the edge of the city delivering biodiversity enhancements are considered to be significant, despite the relatively modest scale of the 4MW solar development. These public benefits are considered to comfortably outweigh the identified harm."
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