Public Consultation: Thursday 8th February 4pm to 7pm at Helperby Village Hall

Welcome to our project website. Here you will find information about our proposal for a new solar farm at Pilmoor. You can also provide your feedback and comments on the proposals which will be considered carefully by the project team and help to shape the final design.

The UK’s electricity demand is forecast to double by 2050 as we transition away from polluting fossil fuels to clean electric power to help address climate change. The demand is driven by many factors including the growing use of electric cars, the transition away from gas and oil boilers to electric heat pumps and the growing number of UK households. This demand, coupled with decommissioning of fossil fuel power stations across the UK, requires a five-fold increase in the deployment of solar PV across the UK.

The UK must also address energy security and become far less reliant on volatile foreign energy markets which have caused the recent spikes in household energy bills. 

The proposed solar farm development will help to meet this growing demand by providing a supply of clean, safe electricity for approximately 12,000 homes. It would connect into the local distribution network providing renewable energy to local people. It will help to tackle climate change, help to improve the UK’s energy security and does not require government subsidy.

The website provides further information on the proposals and the energy context in the UK. Importantly, you can complete our survey and leave your feedback. All of your comments will be carefully considered by the project team and will help to shape the final proposals.

Thank you for your interest in this project and taking the time to look at our website. 

Energy Generation: 49.99MW

Number of homes powered: 15,000

CO2 saved per annum: 21,500 tonnes

Enhancements

Project will provide enhancements to the Public Right of Way network including the provision of new picnic areas

Landscape enhancements

Will deliver a range of landscape enhancements to screen the development and achieve a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on site

Reversible

Project will be fully reversible and will preserve the agricultural function of the land

2023
Early 2023
Phase one consultation on initial proposals
29th November 2023
Public Exhibition

Time: 16:00-19:00

Venue: Sessay Village Hall, Thirsk, YO7 3BE

Autumn / Winter 2023
Submission of Planning Application to Hambleton District Council
Winter / Spring 2024
Statutory consultation with key stakeholders and technical consultees
Spring 2024
Determination of planning application by Hambleton District Council
2024
2024
Likely commencement of Construction