Solar farm that would power almost 26,000 homes per year approved

Plans for a new solar farm which would power almost 26,000 homes per year and create 375 jobs have been unanimously approved. Proposals had been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council

planning department to carry out the work over 193 acres of agricultural land at High Barns Farm, located either side of Coal Lane near Elwick village. The application from Enviromena

Project Management UK will see the construction and operation of a grid connected solar photovoltaic farm, with a capacity of 49.9MW, and a battery energy storage system. The development

will be for a temporary period of 40 years and will provide "a reliable source of clean, renewable energy to the National Grid." Additionally it will "power approximately

25,915 homes per year" and "support approximately 375 full-time equivalent jobs across the supply chain." The proposals went before the latest meeting of the council's

planning committee for a decision after four objections were lodged by residents, raising concerns around the scale and impact on views. However the application was unanimously approved by

councillors, which was in line with recommendations from local authority officers. Lee Adams from applicant Enviromena, speaking at the meeting, said they have worked closely with Elwick

Parish Council and other local groups on the scheme which will have "substantive community benefits" - including employment opportunities. He added: "There is an urgent need

for renewable energy projects in the UK, the Government has identified in its national energy strategy that 70 gigawatts of solar is required by 2035 if Net Zero targets are to be achieved.

The High Barns solar scheme will make a notable contribution to this target and power approximately 26,000 homes and save in equal measure over 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year."

Proposals note at the end of the 40-year period "all infrastructure will be removed and the land reinstated" to its current condition. A report from council planning officers ruled

the development "will have considerable benefits in respect of being a form of development that would be able to generate (and store) substantial levels of electricity in a sustainable

manner." They concluded that through "a combination of existing screening and landscape mitigation, its impact is considered not to be significantly detrimental to landscape

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