Planning Approval Granted for Beverley Solar Farm After Initial Council Rejection

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A large-scale solar farm project near Beverley, East Yorkshire, has been granted planning permission following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, overturning a previous rejection by East Riding Council. The council had originally denied the application over concerns about the visual and environmental impact on the rural landscape.

The Carr Farm Solar Farm, a proposed 49.9 megawatt (MW) development, is a joint initiative between BOOM Power and Albanwise Synergy. Spanning more than 100 hectares across seven agricultural fields, the project is located south of Tickton and west of the River Hull, with the small village of Weel being the nearest community. The facility is expected to operate for 40 years, producing enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes each year.

East Riding Council had initially rejected the plans in December 2024, stating that the solar farm would have a “detrimental cumulative impact” and contribute to the “unacceptable industrialisation” of the countryside. The council’s decision also cited concerns that the development would “erode the intrinsic rural character” of the area, giving more weight to visual and landscape harm than to the project’s energy benefits.

Despite acknowledging that the project would affect the countryside’s character, the Planning Inspectorate ultimately concluded that the benefits of renewable energy provision outweighed the visual and cumulative impacts. This decision clears the way for construction to begin and reflects the growing national emphasis on expanding clean energy infrastructure.

In response to the approval, BOOM Power founder Mark Hogan emphasised the project’s importance in advancing the United Kingdom’s renewable energy goals. “We are delighted to be in a joint venture with Albanwise Synergy on Carr Farm Solar Farm,” Hogan said, noting that the development “reinforces the importance of renewable energy in meeting the UK’s ambitious climate targets, while thoughtfully addressing environmental and community concerns.”

Albanwise Synergy CEO Paul Hanson echoed the sentiment, highlighting both the economic and environmental benefits of the project. “We are proud to be delivering a project that not only generates significant clean energy but also enhances biodiversity and benefits the local economy,” Hanson stated.

However, local opposition remains strong. The East Riding Against Solar Expansion (ERASE) campaign group has voiced significant concern over the Planning Inspectorate’s ruling. Spokesperson George McManus criticised the outcome, especially in light of a recent similar appeal rejection in Kent. That case, involving the East Stour Solar Farm near Ashford, was turned down based on visual impact and loss of amenity, factors that McManus believes are equally relevant to Carr Farm.

“The Ashford decision illustrates that this process is not a rubber stamp,” McManus argued. He urged East Riding Council to take lessons from the Kent case as it considers another solar farm application in Molescroft, north of Beverley. ERASE has already raised a “myriad of concerns” over that proposed project, calling for stronger opposition from local authorities.

The Carr Farm decision comes as debate continues nationally over the balance between renewable energy development and preserving the character of the British countryside. With government policy pushing for increased use of solar and wind power, local councils and campaign groups are being challenged to weigh environmental benefits against community and landscape considerations.