A four-day public hearing will take place as developer Boom Power appeals against planning refusal for a solar project in Yorkshire.
Boom Power had submitted a planning application to Wakefield Council in June 2023 for a 22.4MW solar PV power plant, which would be located on 133 hectares of land in Sitlington, Yorkshire. However, the council issued a denial decision in April 2024, citing a number of reasons for the denial.
One of the reasons given for refusing planning permission was the location of 8.8 hectares of best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land, the loss of which the council states is “not offset by the renewable energy and biodiversity benefits that accrue from the proposed development”, as well as concerns about the disruption of the green belt, the impact on the visual character of the local landscape and concerns about noise pollution.
In response, the developers have lodged an appeal with the council, disputing planning officers’ points. Boom Power claims that it believes the council has incorrectly established the area’s heritage balance and notes that other issues raised in the council’s decision to refuse planning permission are “complex, interrelated” concerns that “further need to be investigated. would be better done verbally.”
Additionally, the developer’s response notes that Natural England has historically rarely objected to the use of less than 20 hectares of BMV for a solar project, adding that lower quality land was sourced and discounted first, and that the rent paid for by the solar farm would far exceed the profit that could be made from agricultural activities on the 8 hectares of BMV used for the development, supporting rather than hindering farmers in the area. Concerns were also raised about the council’s assessment of potential noise impacts, as well as the nature of the many complaints from local residents about the potential impact on historic buildings well outside the development boundary of the site.
The developers have also offered to amend their plans by adding additional hedges around the proposed development, further shielding the solar PV power plant from view from the wider landscape.
A four-day public inquiry will take place in Wakefield from March 25, 2025 to determine whether planning permission should actually be granted.
At the time of publication, Boom Power had not responded to a request for comment from Solar energy portal.
Another victory for Boom Power?
This is not the first time Boom Power has been initially refused planning permission, and on a recent occasion its fortunes were reversed when it lodged an appeal.
In September 2023, the developer successfully appealed Basildon Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the 25.6MW Crays Hall Solar Farm near Billericay, Essex. As with Wakefield’s proposal, the Crays Hall Solar Farm was initially refused permission due to concerns about the integrity of the green belt, the local countryside and the visual features of the surrounding area. The decision to grant the appeal was attributed to the 94% net biodiversity gain for the project site, as well as the lack of suitable other sites in the Basildon area.
