Durham renewable energy firm reveals plans for Leeds solar park

A renewable energy firm has announced that it is launching plans for a new solar park near Leeds.

Banks Renewables, based in Durham, is developing a planning application for a new solar energy park which is expected to meet the annual energy requirements of up to 12,000 family homes.

The new Barnsdale scheme would include solar panels and battery storage covering an area of around 50 hectares of agricultural land between Kippax and Allerton Bywater.

Around £25k of the revenues generated by the scheme would be directed every year into a benefits fund that would provide funding for local charities, community groups and good causes.

Banks Renewables is expecting to submit a planning application to Leeds City Council for the new scheme before the end of the year, with a view to it being determined in the first quarter of 2021.

Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at The Banks Group, commented: “The UK has set itself ambitious targets for renewable energy generation which require new infrastructure and generating facilities to be developed in appropriate locations.

“The project is located is an area that we know very well, and having conducted a detailed search, this site was identified as providing the best opportunity to create a solar park that links directly into the adjacent electricity substation.

“We will look to work closely with local parish councils and other community representatives to ensure we develop a comprehensive and detailed planning application, with particular reference to the planned ecological and biodiversity enhancements meeting specific local priorities.

“The benefits fund will also extend the contribution we’ve made to enhancing local communities in recent years and we hope that Leeds City Council’s planning committee will support the vision we’re developing for this important project.”