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Planning permission granted for Burrow Beck solar development

A solar farm which aims to provide cleaner, less expensive energy has been approved by Lancaster City Council’s Planning Regulatory Committee at a meeting held this week (Monday, September 30).

The development, which will be located on land owned by the city council north of Bailrigg Lane, will produce 4GWh of sustainable energy. 

The solar panels will be installed on brackets and will face south to maximise sunlight exposure. Three substations, CCTV and security fencing will also be provided.

Lancaster City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has since set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions within the district. 

The renewable energy generated by the development will be equivalent to the electrical usage of approximately 1,300 homes. It will be capable of offsetting around 80% of the council’s electricity consumption.

The development also aims to provide biodiversity enhancements across the wider site, with the provision of new hedgerows in strategic locations that will not affect the performance of the solar panels. A conservation grazing scheme will also enable the management of the field as traditional hay meadows which will encourage wildflower growth.

The planning permission was granted subject to a Construction Method Statement which aims to minimise the impacts on nearby residents during the construction period. Preparatory work is expected to start this winter, with construction commencing in April 2025.

Councillor Paul Stubbins, Cabinet member with responsibility for Climate Action, said:  “The decision of the Planning Regulatory Committee to grant planning approval for the council’s solar farm is much welcomed. The development constitutes an important element of the council’s transition to cleaner, more efficient and less costly forms of energy, with the potential to save approximately 800 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. 

“The council, as a responsible landowner, will also ensure that the ecological value of the site is improved via its Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan.”

The delivery of the Burrow Beck solar farm is the latest in a series of emission reduction proposals that the council is progressing.

These include the decarbonisation of council buildings at Williamson Park, CityLab and The Storey in Lancaster aided by the successful award of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding, and which seeks to reduce emissions across the council’s entire estate by 45%. 

A Local Area Energy Plan for the district funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is also being prepared.   

The recent decarbonisation of Salt Ayre Leisure Centre has reduced the council’s gas emissions by over 600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, and since its installation in November 2021 has contributed over £350k of running cost savings when compared to the costs of the previous energy system.

Last updated: 03 October 2024

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