It will occupy a site that was once used by motocross bikers, but is now vacant and disused

It is hoped local communities will benefit from the development, which could generate more than 216 million kWh of renewable energy over its 25 year lifespan. The 16 acre development at Old Station Road, South Bank, which is bounded by the A66 to the south and the Haven traveller site to the east, has been proposed by Marske-based Community Led Regeneration, a community interest company.

A non-profit organisation, it is engaged in the energy, housing and skills and training sector and described as delivering local-community based solutions with a view to having a “sustainable impact globally”. Government grants have been secured for the scheme whose primary focus will be to harness solar energy efficiently and feed it directly into the national grid.