North Yorkshire solar farm project sparks local farming concerns

The North Yorkshire Council Strategic Planning Committee has approved the construction of the Sutton-on-the-Forest solar farm near Huby. Proposed by Ampyr Solar Europe, the project will cover approximately 95 hectares of agricultural land near Brownmoor Lane. The installation is designed to have a capacity of up to 49.9 MW, accompanied by a 10 MW energy storage system, which is expected to provide enough energy for roughly 24,400 households annually.

The decision has drawn significant opposition from a local cattle farming family that has operated the land for three generations. The family reports that approximately 20 hectares of the site include two of their most productive fields. They expressed concerns to council members that the loss of this high-quality land could undermine the economic viability of their farm, potentially forcing them to cease agricultural operations.

In response to these concerns, the investor stated that the land is intended to return to agricultural production after the 50-year lifespan of the installation, emphasizing the project's long-term environmental and energy benefits.