Say ‘NO’ to one million solar panels in our countryside

Light Valley Solar are proposing to cover 2,500 acres of prime farmland with 4 meter high solar panels, BESS sites, substations, high security fencing and CCTV.

We are a group of local residents, business owners and farmers opposing Light Valley Solar’s plans to industrialise 13 miles of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside between Monk Fryston and Escrick.

THE PLANS
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Map showing Light Valley Solar plans to construct an industrial solar park across 13 miles of North Yorkshire, from Monk Fryston to Escrick.

This is not a small scale solar farm. It is a 13 mile industrial solar park, covering 2,500 acres of prime farmland. It will totally change our local area from being rural countryside, to a wide scale industrial site.
It includes one million, bungalow height, industrial solar panels, and all the infrastructure that goes with it. This includes substations, BESS sites, cabling, high security fencing and CCTV.

The 3 year construction phase will wipe out our local wildlife, destroy local habitats and clog up our, already, over-saturated roads.

Light Valley Solar are owned by the Macquarie group - the multi billion dollar hedge fund that plunged Thames Water into vast amounts of debt whilst taking millions in dividends for themselves. We don’t want them to be the custodians of our countryside.

Light Valley Solar don’t care about green energy or the environment, they care about making profit.

Why does it matter?

Young male deer with small antlers standing in a green forest
Aerial view of a large solar panel farm on farmland with fields and a clear sky.

Visualistion the Light Valley Solar plans for sites 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 near South Milford, Monk Fryston and Hambleton - the scale and size is vast.

  • Help us to raise funds - Banners, leaflets, planning and legal advice all cost money, so we need your help to raise these funds. Please donate and support the campaign here.

  • Sign the petition - Add your voice to our petition to let those in power know that we do not want this solar park in our countryside. Join thousands who have already signed here.

  • Keep sharing and talking - Word of mouth is one of the best ways of letting people know the scale and impact of the plans. More people are becoming aware, but often have misconceptions, believing that the solar panels are smaller than planned, that it is ‘just one field’, that there will be no noise, that it’s good for wildlife etc. It’s important to share information and engage in conversations around this.

  • Get social - You can follow us on Instagram @rooftopsnotcountryside and join our Facebook group here.

  • Lobby your MP, Parish Council, North Yorkshire Council and Mayor -
    Contact local decision makers and interested organisations. Here is a list of people and groups that you may want to get in touch with:

    • ed.miliband.mp@parliament.uk

    • keir.mather.mp@parliament.uk

    • defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk

    • enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

    • info@cpre.org.uk

    • South Milford Parish Council: annrowling@gmail.com

    • Sherburn-In-Elmet Parish Counci: office@sherburninelmet-tc.gov.uk

    • Hillam Parish Council: hillampcclerk@gmail.com

    • Skipwith Parish Council: parishclerk@skipwith-pc.gov.uk

    • Monk Fryston Parish Council: clerk@monkfrystonparishcouncil.net

    • Beal Parish Council: clerk@bealparishcouncil.gov.uk

    • Birkin Parish Council: birkinvillagemeeting@btinternet.com

    • Hambleton Parish Council: jjhambletonpcclerk@gmail.com

    • Riccall Parish Council: Clerk@riccallparishcouncil.gov.uk

    • Escrick Parish Council: clerk@escrickparishcouncil.gov.uk

    • Witstow Parish Council: clerk@wistowparishcouncil.gov.uk

    • Thorpe Willoughby Parish Council: clerk-pc@thorpewilloughby.org.uk

    • Burton Salmon Parish Council: clerk@burtonsalmon-pc.gov.uk

How to get involved

Golden wheat field under a partly cloudy sky.

Timeline - where are we up to?

  • 16th October to 20th November 2025 - Light Valley Solar are carrying out targeted consultation, consulting on 40 specific changes.

  • Now until the end of 2025 - Light Valley Solar are processing the feedback that they received during the consultation stage and creating the final plans for the Light Valley Solar Park.

  • Feb 2026 - Light Valley Solar will submit these revised plans to the Planning Inspectorate. These plans are likely to be quite different from the initial plans that they shared during the consultation stage, and should be in much more detail.

  • Feb-March 2026 - As soon as the plans are submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, we all have 6 weeks to register as interested parties. We can only comment and object to the plans if we are registered with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party, so it is really important that as many people register at this stage in order to make our voices heard. We have plans in place to support you in the registration process, and in voicing your concerns. This support will be accessible both online and in-person across the community.

We will keep updating you via our website, mailing list (you can join by signing the petition here) and social media. If you have anything that you’d like to share with us, please use our Contact page.