Solar farm approved near A1(M) service station

A solar farm to provide renewable power for electric vehicle charging points at a nearby motorway service station is to be built in North Yorkshire.

The go-ahead for the 12-acre (five hectare) site next to the Moto Wetherby Services on the A1(M) was given by councillors.

The site would consist of a total of 12, 418 solar panels mounted on 19 rows of supporting structures with a maximum height of 6.7ft (2m), councillors were told.

A spokesperson from Moto Services said the development had been "deemed crucial for the ongoing functionality" of the service station.

“Electric vehicles will play a big part in the transition to zero emission transport, but to achieve these targets it is imperative suitable infrastructure is provided to support electric vehicles," they added.

The proposal from Moto, the UK’s largest motorway service station operator with 59 sites, would mean 80 more charging points could be installed for customers at the Wetherby service station, planning documents stated.

Once the solar farm was completed, it was expected to be able to generate up to 7MW of renewable energy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Earlier this year, councillors on the Selby and Ainsty planning committee said the scheme should go ahead, pending legal agreements.

Wetherby Town Council did not object, but raised concerns about the risk of fires from battery storage units, the replacement of trees and noise pollution.

North Yorkshire Council and Moto had agreed on a biodiversity enhancement management plan that would ensure native trees, shrubs and wildflowers were planted, a meeting heard.

There was also a pledge from the firm to manage biodiversity on the site for the next 40 years.

North Yorkshire Council said the new solar farm would make an important contribution to meeting commitments around carbon dioxide emissions and climate change.

In May, neighbouring Leeds City Council approved plans for 762 homes about 2,000ft (610m) south of the site.

There were 17 objections to the solar farm from nearby residents, with some citing the proximity to this major housing scheme.

However, Moto said the solar panels would “unlikely lead to significant adverse effects” on the development.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.