Peartree Hill: Government signs off 'mega' solar farm in East Riding the size of 1,500 football pitches

Campaigners said they felt "overwhelming sadness" as the government announced the issuing of a development consent order for the Peartree Hill Farm near Long Riston and Arnold.

Developers German multinational RWE will now be looking to start construction on the 2,200 acre site with provisional completion in 2033.

Covering the equivalent of 1,500 football pitches, up to 1 million Chinese manufactured panels with steel supports, concrete foundations and associated infrastructure will carpet agricultural fields near Beverley.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: "We are driving further and faster for clean homegrown power that we control to protect the British people and bring bills down for good.

"It is crucial we learn the lessons of the conflict in the Middle East - solar is one of the cheapest forms of power available and is how we get off the rollercoaster of international fossil fuel markets and secure our own energy independence."

RWE said the farm, which will connect to the grid at Creyke Beck sub station, near Cottingham, would provide the equivalent electricity for 230,000 homes.

They claimed there were benefits for communities including community funding from a £4.2 million pot over its operational lifetime.

However some residents are concerned about the sheer number of projects in the pipeline for the East Riding, and the infrastructure accompanying them, including a number of solar farms that have already been approved.

Last year Lord Hunt gave consent to Boom Power to turn an area of agricultural land the size of Durham into another massive 400MW solar farm between Gribthorpe, Spaldington, Wressle and Howden. There are still three mega farms to be decided.

George McManus, spokesman for East Riding Against Solar Expansion, said they'd tried for two years to engage with developers but their "entreaties had been ignored."

He said a whole series of outstanding issues including safety and cumulative effect.

He said:"It's just devastating and terribly sad to think of this beautiful landscape being covered in plastic, glass and concrete.

"Individual lives will be devastated and collectively we will all lose much loved, natural amenities."

However he said they'd consider their options and would not "surrender without a fight."

Nadine Janecke, chief development director, RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said the project "has the potential to.provide reliable, renewable power while delivering meaningful benefits for the local area through investment in biodiversity, public access and community funding."

These include 12 kms of new permissive paths. Mr McManus pointed out that the entire area will be fenced in with 3.5m high security fencing and CCTV: "It will look like a giant industrial estate and the natural amenity enjoyed by walkers and riders for centuries will be lost."