Council publicly opposes solar farm plans

16 minutes ago

Harry HarrisonLocal Democracy Reporting Service

A council has publicly declared its opposition to a proposed solar farm, saying it would “disrupt local life” and “deliver little real benefit” to residents.

Whitestone Solar Farm wants to install sola panels on three sites in South Yorkshire, one of which is just outside of Conisbrough, capable of powering 250,000 homes.

However, a motion tabled by City of Doncaster Council’s Reform UK councillor Rachel Reed calling on the developers to withdraw its plan and scale back any future proposal was passed with cross-party support.

A spokesperson for Whitestone said: “We are currently reviewing the feedback we received and working to update our proposals to address issues wherever possible.”

In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Reed said: “This is a clear win for our community, which has stood together to challenge a development that is simply the wrong project in the wrong place.

“Whitestone would damage green space, disrupt local life, and deliver little real benefit to Doncaster. Councillors have recognised that, and [this] vote sends a strong message: our area will not be taken for granted.”

Responding to the council’s motion, a spokesperson for Whitestone Solar Farm said: “Whitestone Solar Farm is a proposed solar development that is still in early stages of development.

“We have just completed our statutory consultation, a six-week period during which we met with hundreds of local residents and received thousands of pieces of feedback.”

They said the project would include a “community benefit package” worth £300,000 a year for the local area.

LDRS A man with a shaved head and blue eyes wearing a light blue shirt, red tie and navy jacket. He stands in front of a low dark wall. Behind the wall is a grass bank, trees and hedges and some ruined buildings in the distance.

Defence Secretary John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh & Conisbrough, has also opposed the plan and called it the “wrong scheme in the wrong place”.

However, due to the solar farm being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the final decision will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband.

City of Doncaster Council has previously suggested solar infrastructure should be installed on rooftops and brownfield land, rather than agricultural land.

Whitestone said: “In order to meet national targets for renewable energy, large scale projects like Whitestone are needed, however, we also continue to support the rooftop revolution and continue to develop our rooftop solar business.”

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