Notices - recent
Light Valley Solar consultation - May 2026
published on 21st Apr 2026
The Light Valley Solar Project (LVS), has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. The following comments have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by Escrick Parish Council in response to the next stages of the NSIP process:
The parish of Escrick recognises the national importance of renewable energy and supports the transition to a low-carbon economy. This support is not unconditional and must be balanced against the protection of valued landscapes, heritage assets and long term sustainability of rural communities.
The proposed development represents an extensive and industrial-scale intervention across a highly sensitive rural landscape immediately adjoining Escrick and the Escrick Park estate. The scale, distribution, and visual presence of the solar arrays and associated infrastructure would fundamentally alter the character of the area, eroding its openness and historic rural identity.
Particular concern is raised regarding the impact on the setting of heritage assets and the historic estate landscape, where the introduction of large-scale engineered structures would result in a clear and lasting harm to their significance and the close proximity to several isolated dwellings where occupants will effectively be swallowed by the development and encounter major ongoing disturbance not only though the build but throughout the sites operational life.
While the applicant highlights biodiversity enhancements and reversible land use, the duration of the development (up to 60 years) represents a generational change in land character, effectively constituting a long-term loss of agricultural landscape and rural amenity creating potential for yet further scarring on the already industrial battle scarred landscape through the areas efforts seen in the railway, quarrying, mining, and wartime sacrifices.
The justification for site selection appears to be primarily driven by grid connectivity and commercial land availability rather than landscape and area suitability, resulting in the inclusion of areas that are demonstrably sensitive and closely associated with established communities and large areas of needless damage to include Escrick on a remote edge.
The inclusion of Light Valley Solar site 1 (adjacent to Escrick) in this project makes no sense when the location of the other sites in this scheme are viewed on a map. The transmission distances, cabling required & disruption to the environment involved in including the Escrick site are unacceptable. Site inclusion is purely driven by the landowners willingness to take short term financial gain and there is simply no regard for the human or environmental impact of including the Escrick site in this proposed scheme by those involved. There would also be considerable long term damage in the loss of much needed agricultural land for future national independence needs by inclusion of this site. It should be a basic requirement of the applicant to actually prove their claims that this land is of poor agricultural value. We say that because we know in the community that despite the claims made in the application this land has been in the past and could be in the future, perfectly suitable for sustainable crop production.
Furthermore, insufficient weight has been given to cumulative impacts arising from similar large-scale solar proposals in the wider area, which collectively risk transforming the overall character of this part of North Yorkshire.
Escrick Parish Council therefore considers that the adverse impacts of the proposal significantly outweigh its benefits in this location and that the development, as currently proposed, fails to achieve an appropriate balance between national need and local environmental protection.
Community Governance Review Consultation - second stage
published on 30th Mar 2026
Find attached a CGR stage 2 consultation poster.
Community Governance Review poster March 2026
The second stage 12-week consultation on the 2025/26 Community Governance Reviews (CGRs) is now live. The closing date for responses is Thursday 11 June 2026.
Light Valley Solar consultation
published on 19th Mar 2026 (updated on 20th Mar 2026)
This project is at the pre-examination stage. You can view the project information at: Light Valley Solar - Project information
Site 1 is the northernmost parcel, part of the Escrick Estate and is approximately 430m east of Escrick.
Register to have your say at: Register to have your say about a national infrastructure project - National Infrastructure Planning
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS 30th APRIL 2026
Light Valley Solar_S56 Poster.pdf
Figure 1.1 Site Location Plan and Order Limits.pdf
Land off Carrs Meadow planning application
published on 3rd Mar 2026
ZG2025/0338/FUL | Erection of No. 8 dwellings and associated garages and landscape | Land Off Carrs Meadow Escrick
Find below the response the Parish Council sent to the planning inspectorate in relation to the proposed plans for land off Carrs Meadow.
Parish Council response to the Planning Inspectorate regarding Land off Carrs Meadow
All other documents can be found on the North Yorkshire Council planning portal:
Third Release of information on the North Yorkshire Local Plan ‘Call for Sites’
published on 12th Feb 2026
The ‘call for sites’ closed on 30th November 2025 and NYC are currently in the process of assessing the 2000+ sites that have been put forward for consideration. They will re-open the call for sites later this year, following the completion of the current site assessment work. Further details about the re opening of the call for sites will be available on the NYC website in the coming months.
The only change for Escrick is the additional plot of land next to the proposed SA-ESC-0002 site which has been put forward as green / open / community land SA-ESC-0001.
Further info can be found at
Call for sites for the North Yorkshire Local Plan | North Yorkshire Council
NYC are not consulting on the release of the sites at this stage, and are not accepting comments on them, although they are making the information available to ensure greater levels of transparency and to allow you, the community and other interested parties the opportunity to have sight of the submitted sites as early as possible. A comprehensive consultation will take place later that will seek the views of the community on all sites – at which stage further work will have been completed to give a greater direction as to whether such sites are likely to be recommended for allocation or dismissed. You will be able to share your views at that time.
Description of works: Carriageway repairs
published on 12th Feb 2026
PLANNED ROAD RESTRICTION NOTIFICATION - JB400G-MAIN-A7-231384-01
Location: Main Street, Escrick CP, Escrick.
Description of works: Carriageway repairs
The Restriction will be in place for a period of 2 days between 25th February 2026 and 26th February 2026
The Road Restriction and any associated traffic management can be viewed using this URL link https://one.network/?tm=GBundefined
Regards
North Yorkshire Council
North Yorkshire Council Parish Liaison: Age-friendly Town and Parish Guide
published on 23rd Jan 2026
Please find attached a copy of The Centre for Ageing Better’s ‘Age-friendly Town and Parish Guide’ which has recently been published, endorsed by NALC and designed for Town and Parish Councils.
According to the guide, building an age-friendly town or parish requires coordinated efforts between local older people, the local council and principal authorities, health services, transport providers, businesses, and voluntary organisations. Town and Parish Councils have an important role to play, as they are uniquely positioned to facilitate or support these partnerships and advocate for decisions that enhance the wellbeing of their communities. The guide is not only for those who work in Towns and Parish Councils but also those who would like to work with Councils.
We have also been made aware there is a free online webinar being held on Thursday 29th of January at 10:00am. This virtual event will give you the opportunity to learn more about why and how Town and Parish Councils can improve life for older residents. To book your place, visit Age-friendly towns and parishes | Centre for Ageing Better.Age-friendly-Town-and-Parish-Guide.pdf
End of Garden Waste Collection Service for 2025
published on 18th Nov 2025
The last garden waste collections will take place between Monday 24 November and Friday 5 December.
To check when the last collections are, please visit the bin calendar page.
North Yorkshire Council will be in touch with more details early in the new year about the service for 2026. In the meantime, please visit our website for more information.
Anyone who plans on having a real Christmas tree this festive season, can chop it up small and leave it in their garden waste wheelie bin for collection in March 2026, once they’ve paid for their new licence. Alternatively, they can be recycled at a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
The Mobile Library dates 2026
published on 7th Nov 2025 (updated on 16th Feb 2026)
Dates attached for the mobile library visit dates for 2026. Learn more, go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/mobilelibrary
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