Information about the proposed Clean Air solar farm development and its potential impact on East Yorkshire communities and countryside. The proposal involves a large-scale solar farm development across agricultural land in East Yorkshire, including associated infrastructure such as substations, cabling, access roads, fencing, and battery storage facilities.
Quick Facts
- Location: The project is located on land in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is split across two sites, one of which is situated between the villages of Skidby, Little Weighton, Bentley, and Walkington.
- Proposed Size: The solar farm has an anticipated export capacity of 500 megawatts (MW). It is proposed to cover approximately 2,800 acres of land, which is roughly double the size of Cottingham.
- Battery Storage: The proposal includes attached battery energy storage.
- Developer Name: The project is being developed by PS Renewables in partnership with Perigus Energy (formally Ørsted Onshore).
- Affected Villages/Parishes: The villages specifically identified as being adjacent to the site locations are Skidby, Little Weighton, Bentley, and Walkington.
- Current Planning Status:
- The project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning the developers must apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Planning Inspectorate, with the final decision made by the Secretary of State.
- Public Information Days are scheduled for late June.
- A full statutory public consultation is currently expected to take place in Autumn 2026.
Maps and Location
The land proposed for the Southern Sector of the project is classified as Grade 2 and Grade 3a according to the official Agricultural Classification Grading. This classification categorises the area as the “Best and Most Versatile Land” (BMV).
Key Community Concerns
Landscape and Visual Changes
Residents fear the project will irreversibly change the character of the local landscape. Concerns specifically highlight the industrial units of the battery storage system and the visual pollution of large, unsightly solar panels. There are also concerns about glint and glare from the panels and how long it will take for new hedgerows to obscure the infrastructure.
Traffic and Construction Disruption
The local road network consists of many single-track roads and blind bends that residents feel are unsuitable for heavy construction vehicles. There is significant concern regarding the cumulative impact of multiple local energy projects, which could lead to a prolonged construction period of over five years, causing constant disruption to local traffic.
Health and Safety Risks
A major direct concern is the risk of Thermal Runaway fires in the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Residents fear such an incident would release toxic plumes of hydrogen fluoride and hydrochloric acid over local housing and downstream areas like Hull.
Environmental and Water Safety
The site sits atop the East Yorkshire Chalk Aquifer, a strategic water source. Residents are deeply worried that the massive volumes of water required to fight a potential battery fire would become contaminated and leak into the groundwater and soil.
Impact on Property Values
There is direct concern regarding the ability of residents to sell their houses and obtain a fair price during the multi-year construction phase.
Loss of Amenity and Heritage
The development may affect public footpaths and bridleways that residents use for recreation. There are also concerns about the removal of existing trees and hedgerows, and the proximity of the project to English Heritage sites.
Noise Pollution
The battery units include Air Handling units leading to worries about ongoing noise pollution for nearby homes.
Impact on the Farming Community
Beyond the visual change, there is extreme worry about the displacement of tenant farmers and families who have worked this high-quality arable land for generations.
Planning Process
The planning process allows residents, local authorities, statutory consultees, and community organisations to review and comment on the proposal before any final decision is made.
We encourage all residents to:
- Read the available documents carefully
- Stay informed about consultation deadlines
- Attend public meetings where possible
- Submit informed comments through the official planning process
- Lobby MPs