New plans have emerged for a 100-acre solar farm just 650 metres away from Hadrian's Wall. The planned site is to the north east of the village of Fourstones, and is extremely close to the site of an application for a 164-acre solar farm - although the proposals were submitted prior to the larger one.
The plans has been submitted by Marlborough-based company ER New Projects 2 Ltd. A summary of the development submitted as part of the application states that, if approved, the site would provide enough renewable energy to power around 8,700 homes for a lifespan of 40 years.
The proposed area currently consists of six fields, which would be returned to agricultural land after those four decades. It is also intended that sheep will continue to graze beneath the panels, allowing for agricultural use to continue.
The developer lists a number of proposed benefits for the scheme, including a contribution towards both Government and council targets for the generation of renewable energy and carbon reduction - as well as the creation of jobs during construction and in operation as well as a community benefit fund of up to £16,000 a year and an education fund of £3,000 a year.
Despite this, the council has received a total of 17 objections from residents - although some of these came from people living in Ashington and Newcastle. Wall resident Katherine Rogstad wrote: "I object due to the substantial harmful impact it would have on the local landscape.
"It would be industrialisation of this part of the Tyne Valley which brings many to the area for its tranquillity and beauty and its close proximity to a World Heritage Site, Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall. It would also be an insult to the views from two Iron Age settlements, Wall and Warden."
Warden Parish Council declined to support or object the plans, but did also raise concerns about the visual impact of the scheme from Warden Hill Fort.
The applicant has stated that the layout has been adjusted to reduce the visual impact of the development, particularly from Hadrian's Wall itself. The report also points out that the section of the World Heritage site closest to the development has "limited legibility in the landscape" and that "key elements" would not be affected.
The plans are due to be considered for approval either by council officers or a committee of councillors in the near future.