Plans for two 16,000 solar panel farms unveiled

Plans for two solar farms that would power more than 2,400 homes have been unveiled.
Solar panel farm.Solar panel farm.
Solar panel farm.

Solar Power Inc UK Services Limited (SPI) wants to build a 16,900-panel farm on 7.5 hectares of land near Warmfield Lane in Wakefield.

And it wants to build another 16,000-panel farm on 9.5 hectares of land south of Royd Moor Lane in Hemsworth.

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SPI said the proposals would help meet local and national renewable energy targets, as well as reducing CO2 emissions.

Each solar farm would generate 3,700 MWh per annum, equivalent to providing power for 1,200 homes.

SPI said the sites were chosen on a number of factors including having a suitable grid connection, good access, landscape, ecology, heritage and hydrology.

Both sites are now under assessment prior to a planning application being submitted to Wakefield Council.

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A public consultation about the plans was held at Crofton Community Centre in May.

A SPI spokesman said: “The proposed developments provide many opportunities to provide significant biodiversity benefits through enhancement to the existing hedgerows on the sites.

“The land directly underneath the solar panels can also be used for grazing agricultural livestock so the site can remain in agricultural use.”