Abei Energy UK is proposing to construct a 17.6 megawatt solar farm with Battery Energy Storage on farmland to the North of Weeton village. The site will extend to approximately 35.2 hectares and will be adjacent to both Weeton Lane and Woodgate Lane. Outline plans for the proposal can be found be found on the developers website: https://abeienergyprojects.co.uk/projects/#juniper
June 2024 The developer submitted a Screening Request to North Yorkshire Council (NYC) planners to verify whether there was a requirement for any future planning application to include an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Full details of the request, along with consultee comments, are available on the NYC Planning Portal, case reference ZC24/01987/SCREEN.
October 2024 NYC Planners determined that an EIA was not required, concluding ‘it is considered that the scale and nature of the development and the potential impacts on the site and the receiving environment are not sufficient to require an Environmental Impact Assessment.’ Further details are contained in their public report.
February 2025 The developer held a number of consultation events at St Barnabas Church during which they presented outline plans of the solar farm. Disappointingly the plans were scant on detail and representatives from Abei Energy were unable to answer many of the questions posed by members of the community who attended. Abei Energy invited additional feedback to be submitted through their website or by email to developmentuk@abeienergy.com.
Late Spring/Early Summer 2025 Abei Energy has indicated that they are aiming to submit a planning application to NYC mid way through 2025. It is anticipated that NYC will commence the consultation phase no earlier than mid Summer 2025. Once the planning application is live Weeton Parish Council will open its own consultation which will culminate in a Planning Meeting where councillors will decide on a formal response.
A statement from Weeton Parish Council sets out its current position on the proposed Juniper Solar Farm development.
An action group opposing the construction of Juniper Solar Farm has been established by members of the community. Further information on the action group is available from Fiona Gibson (fiona@marpak.co.uk).
There are 2 groups on the Weeton Parish WhatsApp community dedicated to the Juniper Solar Farm proposal. One is an open discussion group while in the other, which is closed to public comments, the Parish Council will post updates concerning the proposal to ensure the community remains informed. This page will also be updated on a periodic basis with updates.