Plans have been submitted for a solar farm and energy storage facility to be built near Darlington.

If Darlington Solar 1 Ltd is successful, the solar farm will be located at the 123.37 hectares of land south of Gately Moor Reservoir on Redmarshall Road in Bishopton.

Planning Permission is sought for a temporary period of 40 years and six months.

After the temporary 40 years of operation, the last six months will be used to remove the solar panels, energy storage and associated equipment, save for any equipment situated 1m or more below ground level which will be made safe.

The land will then be reinstated in its current condition.

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The plans state: “A solar farm of this size, with associated energy storage, will generate and store a significant amount of electricity from renewable sources and mean a reduction of approximately 25,370 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually compared to generating the same amount of electricity using coal.”

The plans also stated that the proposed development would not generate any significant negative health impacts. The scheme will also contribute significantly to supporting the climate change agenda as the UK seeks to become net zero by 2050.

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The site is in an area that is well served by Public Rights of Ways (PRoW). None of the public footpaths in close proximity to or leading through the site would have to be closed or diverted.

The area of the site that will contain the proposed solar farm covers several parcels of land located to the southwest of Redmarshall, south-southeast of Bishopton, and north northwest of Whinney Hill.

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In total 46 responses were received comprising postal comment forms, emails and responses received via the consultation website. All responses that were received (including any received after April 20, 2022, but prior to submission) were considered.

Pegasus Group, on behalf of Darlington Solar 1 Ltd, received ‘How do you feel about the proposed plans for the Gately Moor Solar Farm?'

In respect of comments received there was a range of views. The main themes from these included; design queries, availability of alternative energy sources such as nuclear power, construction traffic impacts the highway safety, effects on ecology and wildlife, loss of agricultural land and landscape and visual impacts.

One resident commented: “Do not support. The grid connection is over three miles away which will mean roads will need digging up all the way through Redmarshall and Carlton then down to Norton substation. Too much disruption.”

Another resident commented: “Broadly support Whilst concerned about loss of viable farmland.”

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