Concerns over solar farm plan near Lancaster University and West Coast Mainline

A Burrow Beck solar farm glare report including the West Coast Mainline railway, Lancaster University and the M6 for Lancaster City Council
-Credit: (Image: Lancaster City Council)


A council's solar farm plan for a 16-acre site near Lancaster University, which could generate clean local energy and play a role in targets to cut emissions into the atmosphere, is set for a decision on Monday.

Lancaster City Council is behind the planning application to build solar panels and infrastructure on land south of Burrow Beck at Bailrigg Lane. It owns the site, near the A6 road and West Coast Mainline railway, and is working with Lancaster-based HPA Architects on the application.

Councillors on the planning committee will consider it on Monday morning, September 30, at Morecambe Town Hall. Planning officers are recommending it be approved.

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The application is for solar panels located across 6.5 hectares of land, around 16 acres, to produce 4MW of sustainable energy. Three substations are included. A planning report states the location is agricultural land south of Lancaster, east of the A6 and the Bailrigg Student Living site. Student flats would not suffer any significant reflection or glare, according to studies.

A public cycle path runs north-south to Lancaster University from Lancaster. Burrow Beck flows beyond the north of the site. Power lines cross the northern area and there is a 15-metre high pylon in an eastern field. Various studies include expert reports on potential sunlight reflections on student flats, road traffic and trains. Hedgerows would be kept, breaking up the solar panel rows, and plans include new fencing and security cameras.

Climate change

A plan for the Burrow Beck solar farm near Lancaster University
A plan for the Burrow Beck solar farm near Lancaster University -Credit:Lancaster City Council

A planning report for councillors states: "Lancaster City Council declared a climate change emergency in 2019 and set a target date of 2030 to make its own activities net-zero carbon. Nationally, there are plans to de-carbonise the UK's power system by 2035. But this target was recently reported as being set to be failed at the current rate of change. Planning has an important role in the delivery of new renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure in locations where the local environmental impact is acceptable."

It adds: "Whilst Scotforth Parish Council and Bailrigg Village Residents' Association have objected. there are clearly environmental, economic, social and community benefits to delivering such renewable energy projects. Such proposals deliver renewable energy, improve energy security and reduce carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel alternatives."

Regarding the quality of the land for farming, the report says soil studies have been done and a senior soil scientist reported there would be no lack of supply of comparable agricultural land in the area. The plan avoids the very highest quality agricultural land that is least appropriate for solar development.

The West Coast Mainline railway near the Burrow Beck solar farm site in a report for Lancaster City Council
The West Coast Mainline railway near the Burrow Beck solar farm site in a report for Lancaster City Council -Credit:Lancaster City Council

Objections

But Scotforth Parish Council has objected and the report states: "Objections include this site being a wrong location for this development, harmful impact of construction traffic on Bailrigg residents and visitors, and on trees and hedges along Bailrigg Lane. Other objections include no assessment of alternative sites, a loss of openness forming an urban extension of Lancaster, visual harm to a gateway location into Lancaster and Bailrigg, and not enough screening."

The parish also believes glazing over open ground is incompatible with maintaining green infrastructure, that there has been a lack of community engagement and there would be a lack of tangible community benefits. Bailrigg Village Residents' Association has similar objections including fears about visual glare on student accommodation and the impact of Bailrigg's rural character.

However, no objections have come from big energy organisations such as United Utilities and National Grid, nor from Lancashire County Council, regarding the roads. And a tree protection officer says the solar plan is acceptable, if subject to enough separation between the proposed fencing and existing hedgerows, extra trees planted along the boundaries to enhance existing features, and protection of grassland and soil during construction work.

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