COUNCILLORS have given the green light for a solar farm to be built between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe.

The application, by Lightsource Renewable Energy, is to convert two fields off School Aycliffe Lane into a solar farm that would generate enough electricity to power 1,200 homes.

In total the site would measure around 24 acres although one of the fields falls outside Darlington Borough Council’s boundary and will have to be considered by Durham County Councillors.

Members of Darlington Council’s planning committee met today (Wednesday, June 24) to approve the plans for the site within their boundary.

Objections from three nearby residents had been lodged, but planning officer Roy Merritt said the proposal was in line with the council’s planning policy.

He said that the industrial backdrop to the site – in the form of the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate – meant that the solar farm would not have the same visual impact as if it were sited in open countryside.

He added that a number of measures were also included to shield the solar panels from view.

These include filling in the gaps in an already well-established hedgerow along the field’s boundary and planting more trees and wildflowers along the site’s border.

A public footpath running alongside the edge of the field will also be maintained and sheep will graze underneath the panels to preserve the agricultural purpose of the land.

Speaking on behalf of Lightsource, senior planner Jessica Gittoes pointed out the environmental benefits that solar farms can bring, in addition to their role in supplying renewable energy.

She said: “One kilometre of native hedgerow will be planted as well as native tree species and wildflower planting.

“There will also be native bird and bat boxes, as well as barn owl boxes, placed in the surrounding trees.”

The solar farm will remain on site for 30 years, after which the land will be returned to its former state.

Ms Gittoes said: “It will become greenfield; this isn’t a precursor for future development.”

Despite these assurances, Cllr Ian Galletley expressed his concern that approving the plan would set a precedent for the future development of solar farms in neighbouring fields.

He said he had recently returned from a trip to the south west where “huge swathes” of the countryside was covered with poly tunnels or solar panels and he warned against the same thing happening to the countryside around Darlington.

“These things may be important in terms of energy, but they are not very attractive things and I just thought it was important to note that a great many people do find them visually intrusive,” he said.

Darlington Borough Council must also decide in an upcoming meeting whether to approve another solar farm application from a separate developer.

Elgin Energy has submitted plans to create an 18-hectare (44.5 acre) solar panel installation on fields at Hunger Hill and Morton farms, between Darlington and Middleton St George.