Oakapple bid to create solar farm

The planned £9m Haigh Hall Solar Farm would be installed on low grade agricultural land in Tingley, near Leeds.

If planning permission is granted, it will have 32,000 solar panels mounted on steel frames.

The proposed development could create 80 temporary construction jobs as well as four permanent positions.

According to Oakapple Renewable Energy, it will also reduce carbon emissions by 3,800 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 1,400 cars off the road.

Oakapple would operate the solar farm for 25 years, generating its revenue from Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). Afterwards, the site will become agricultural land again.

Philip Taylor, the managing director of Oakapple Renewable Energy, said: “Unlike wind turbines, which can be seen for miles, solar panels can be hidden from view, given the correct landscape. There is very little disruption during installation and, once operational, there is negligible noise.”