High Court to review solar farm project near to Yorkshire Sculpture Park
In July last year, Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee gave the go-ahead for panels to be installed across 55 hectares of countryside near to the villages on Woolley and Haigh.
A council decision to build a solar farm close to Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield is be reviewed at the High Court.
In July last year, Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee gave the go-ahead for panels to be installed across 55 hectares of countryside near to the villages on Woolley and Haigh.
One of the sites is off Haigh Lane, near to the M1 motorway and around 500m from the tourist attraction at West Bretton.
A second 23-hectare site, made up of fields next to Woolley Edge Lane, Middle Field Lane and Gypsy Lane, is close to the Woolley conservation area.
More than 170 people objected to the proposal at the time, with many citing the potential impact on the appearance of the area.
But councillors voted in favour of the application, submitted by Boom Power, by a majority of six to one.
Following the meeting, Woolley resident Richard Dixon applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision.
Judicial review is a court proceeding where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision by a public body.
A High Court of Justice King’s Bench Division planning court document, signed by Mrs Justice Lang on February 4, states: “The claimant has raised arguable grounds which merit consideration at a full hearing.”
A two-day hearing has been listed to be held at the Administrative Court in London on April 22 and 23.
Mr Dixon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had challenged the decision on a number of grounds, including “inconsistency in decision making”.
He said: “Similar developments in the area have been treated differently without clear or reasoned justification.”
Mr Dixon said he had also raised “procedural concerns” as part of his legal argument.
He said: “Issues have been raised regarding the availability and timing of key materials during the decision-making process.”
Joe Jenkinson, the council’s service director for planning, transportation and strategic highways, said: “We can confirm that a local resident has challenged the decision to grant planning permission for a solar farm off Haigh Lane and Woolley Edge Lane.
“A judicial review court hearing will take place on April 22 and 23, where we will be defending our decision.”
Other concerns raised at last year’s meeting at Wakefield Town Hall included the potential loss of wildlife habitats, loss of agricultural land and a flood risk being created.
Ian White, of Woolley Parish Council, said the proposals would have a “significant impact” on residents.
He said: “This is one of the last scenic and undeveloped areas in the Wakefield district.
“It’s home to Yorkshire Sculpture Park , one of Wakefield’s outstanding cultural and recreational tourist attractions of national repute.
“This is the first step in the destruction of one of Wakefield’s most attractive areas.”
Boom Power said the project would produce enough renewable energy to power 11,700 family homes a year.
Jack Spurway, representing the company, said: “Impacts both positive and negative have been taken into consideration.
“The positives of the scheme have been shown to outweigh the negatives.
“The way we generate our electricity in this country is changing. The use of fossil fuels is being phased out.”