Plans to create a new South Cumbrian solar farm – around the size of 145 football pitches – have taken a step forward.
Westmorland and Furness Council has provided a screening opinion that the application from Novus Renewable Services for a solar farm on land to the south of Riddings Lane in Gleaston, between Barrow and Ulverston, does not need an environmental impact assessment.
If screening identifies significant environmental effects, an environmental impact assessment is necessary.
The local authority said: “Having considered the characteristics of development, location of development; and characteristics of potential impact and taking into account the potential to mitigate any impacts through the use of planning conditions and/or obligations it is considered that there are unlikely to be any significant residual effects associated with this development.”
According to documents submitted to the council, the proposed solar farm would provide electricity for 12,740 homes, the equivalent of 24 per cent of all properties in South Lakeland and would offset 10,700 tonnes of CO2 each year.
The proposed development would use a 104 hectares site, have a maximum export capacity of up to 49.9MW as well as having an energy storage facility of 20MW.
A letter submitted on behalf of the applicant states: “There is a demonstrable and urgent requirement for the development of renewable energy to meet the net zero targets and ensure the security of the UK energy supply.
“The UK’s legally binding requirement is to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Solar energy plays a vital part in the commitment to decarbonise energy supply in the UK and the transition to low carbon energy to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as gas.
“The proposed development would utilise natural resources, to generate clean, green renewable energy.”
The land is currently marked as grade three agricultural land which means it is of ‘moderate quality’ according to Natural England’s Regional Maps.
According to the letter the proposed development would take six months to build and would have a lifespan of 40 years.
The applicant states after this period the land would be returned to its former use.
Westmorland and Furness Council planning officers decided an environmental impact assessment was not necessary on October 9.
