Developer Renewable Connections has received consent from North Yorkshire Council for the 23MW Carr House solar and battery complex, located near East Heslerton and Sherburn.
The decision, made under delegated powers on 6 June 2025, follows a period of public and statutory consultation launched in early 2024.
Once operational, the project will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 7,400 homes in its first year and provide grid stability through its co-located battery system.
The scheme comprises a 23.5MW solar array alongside a 19MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), designed to help balance supply and demand on the local network.
The development site spans about 88.8 hectares of land to the north of East Heslerton and Sherburn, and lies just south of the River Derwent.
Renewable Connections chief executive Michael Hughes said the decision demonstrated local political commitment to climate action.
“North Yorkshire Council puts renewable energy at the heart of their approach to tackling the climate emergency they announced in 2022,” he said.
“We’re delighted they have chosen to consent Carr House Solar Farm and battery energy storage project, which will make a meaningful contribution to the area’s energy needs and efforts to tackle climate change.”
As part of the planning submission, the project team has committed to a range of biodiversity measures designed to deliver substantial environmental benefits across multiple habitats.
These include a 16% net gain in habitat units, a 55% gain in hedgerow units, and a 7% improvement in watercourse units.
According to Renewable Connections, these gains exceed the requirements set out in the Environment Act and were developed in consultation with ecological experts and community stakeholders.
The company said the project had been designed with sensitivity to its surroundings, including the retention of existing vegetation, the creation of new habitats and corridors, and the installation of screening to limit visual impact.
Carr House is the latest in a series of UK-based solar and storage schemes being brought forward by Renewable Connections, which is one of the country’s most active clean energy developers.
