The North Yorkshire Council Strategic Planning Committee met on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 to discuss a Section 73 application relating to a solar farm in Drax. The application concerned proposed changes to previously approved plans. The committee also reviewed the minutes from their meeting held on 8 July 2025.

Land South of A645, Wade House Lane, Drax

The committee were scheduled to discuss application ZG2025/0678/573, a Section 73 application to vary conditions relating to a previously approved ground-mounted solar farm, including associated infrastructure, at Land south of A645, Wade House Lane, Drax.

The applicant sought to vary conditions 06, 09, 10, 15, 17 and 21 of planning permission reference 2023/0128/EIA, which was granted on 17 April 2024. These conditions relate to:

• approved drawings
• arboricultural method statement
• landscape drawings
• construction environmental management plan
• access drawings
• fencing plan

The proposed changes relate to the layout of the substation compound next to the A645, with the applicant stating that the changes are required to meet updated requirements of Northern Power Grid, the Distribution Network Operator¹ (DNO). The proposed changes to the substation compound layout include:

• a reduced compound area (from 5821.7m² to 4949.2m²)
• one access point instead of two
• three control rooms instead of two
• slightly different dimensions for the 66kV substation

According to the report pack, an existing building would be retained to the south of the substation compound, and additional landscaping would be provided around the compound as a result of its reduced area.

The Head of Development Management – Community Development Services made a recommendation that the planning committee be minded to grant planning permission subject to conditions and the section 106 legal agreement dated 05 April 2024, with authority delegated to the Officers at the end of the publicity period (11th September 2025) to issue the decision, subject to no new material considerations being raised.

Minutes of the Meeting Held on 8 July 2025

The committee were scheduled to review the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2025. Councillor Andy Brown declared a non-prejudicial interest as a member of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), due to that organisation's objection to the proposals that were discussed in the meeting. The minutes relate to application ZD25/00038/FULL, which was for a solar farm including associated infrastructure, underground cabling, landscaping and access on land North of Brompton On Swale. Frances Nicholson, the agent for the applicant, addressed the Committee. Councillor Arnold Warneken spoke during the public speaking section requesting clarification of the biodiversity net gain details.