West Cumbrian Solar Farm Plans Given Go-Ahead
Plans for a new solar farm with more than 20,000 panels have been approved in West Cumbria.
The development will be built on agricultural land next to Ewanrigg Farmhouse on Ewanrigg Lonning, near Maryport.
Cumberland Council’s planning committee approved the application from Anesco Ltd on Wednesday, May 27. The decision means the company can move ahead with the solar farm, which will cover 19.7 hectares of land.
The site will be split into two separate arrays and is expected to operate for 40 years.
Construction is expected to take around 40 weeks.
What Has Been Approved?
The approved plans are for a large solar farm made up of more than 20,000 solar panels.
Solar farms generate electricity by using panels to capture energy from the sun. That power can then be fed into the electricity network.
The West Cumbrian site will use agricultural land near Ewanrigg Farmhouse. The development will be set out in two sections, rather than one single block of panels.
Once built, the solar farm is expected to remain in place for four decades.
Objections From Maryport Town Council
Maryport Town Council objected to the proposal.
The main concern was the visual impact of the solar farm. Members felt the panels could affect the look and character of the area.
The town council also said it believed there were other, more suitable locations for a development of this type.
Concerns about solar farms often focus on their size, their impact on views and their use of agricultural land. These points were considered as part of the planning process.
Developer Says Scheme Has Public Benefit
Edward James, speaking as Anesco’s agent, told the planning committee that the proposal was a sustainable development.
He said it would bring a clear public benefit by contributing to the UK’s energy security.
Supporters of solar farms argue that projects like this help produce cleaner electricity, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support the move towards renewable energy.
The planning committee was also told that screening would help reduce the visual impact of the development.
Flooding Concerns Raised
During the meeting, Cllr Carni McCarron-Holmes, Labour councillor for Maryport North, raised concerns about flooding in the local area.
Flooding is often an important issue in planning decisions, especially where land use is changing or where there are known drainage problems nearby.
However, councillors ultimately decided that the application was acceptable when all the planning issues were balanced together.
Councillors Back Renewable Energy
Cllr Roger Dobson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Corby and Hayton, proposed that the committee should accept the recommendation to grant planning permission.
The proposal was seconded by Cllr Andrew Semple, Labour councillor for Cockermouth South.
Cllr Semple said the development would contribute to renewable energy. He acknowledged that Maryport Town Council had suggested there may be better locations, but said that, on balance, it was a development the area should have.
Cllr John Mallinson, Conservative councillor for Houghton and Irthington, also supported the scheme. He said the application “ticked all the boxes” for him.
Unanimous Support From Planning Committee
When the application was put to a vote, it was unanimously supported by members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee.
This means the solar farm has now been given the go-ahead, subject to the usual planning conditions.
The decision highlights the balance councils must consider when dealing with renewable energy proposals. On one side, there are concerns about landscape, views and local impact. On the other, there is the need to increase clean energy generation and support national energy security.
What Happens Next?
The developer can now move towards the construction stage.
Building the solar farm is expected to take around 40 weeks. Once complete, it will operate for up to 40 years.
Residents near Ewanrigg Lonning may see activity on the site during construction, including deliveries, installation work and the creation of access and screening measures.
The approval marks another step in the growth of renewable energy projects across Cumbria, as councils and developers look for ways to support cleaner power while managing local concerns.
