Doncaster Council agrees to publicly oppose Whitestone Solar Farm
Whitestone Solar Farm has proposed three sites in South Yorkshire, one of which is just outside of Conisbrough.
Last updated 2nd Dec 2025
The City of Doncaster Council has publicly declared its opposition to the Whitestone Solar Farm project near Conisbrough, after a motion was passed with cross-party support.
Members called on the developers of the solar farm to “withdraw” its current proposal for the project and to “significantly scale back any future proposals”.
The motion was tabled by Councillor Rachel Reed, who represents Conisbrough for Reform UK. Whitestone Solar Farm has proposed three sites in South Yorkshire, one of which is just outside of Conisbrough.
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the full council meeting on November 27, 2025, Cllr Reed said: “My motion opposing the Whitestone Solar Farm has been voted through at Full Council. This is a clear win for our community, which has stood together to challenge a development that is simply the wrong project in the wrong place.
“Whitestone would damage green space, disrupt local life, and deliver little real benefit to Doncaster. Councillors have recognised that, and tonight’s vote sends a strong message: our area will not be taken for granted.
“Thank you to everyone who stood united. I’ll continue fighting to ensure future development protects our communities and our environment.”
As previously reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors agreed to a motion in September’s full council meeting, calling for solar infrastructure to be installed on rooftops and brownfield land, rather than agricultural land.
Rawmarsh & Conisbrough MP, John Healey, had previously come out to oppose the solar farm as well.
Healey, who is also Sir Keir Starmer’s Defence Secretary, said it was the “wrong scheme in the wrong place”.
Due to the solar farm being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), the final decision on Whitestone Solar Farm will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – his fellow Doncaster MP, Ed Miliband.
Responding to the council’s motion, a spokesperson for Whitestone Solar Farm said: “Whitestone Solar Farm is a proposed solar development that is still in early stages of development. We have just completed our statutory consultation, a 6-week period during which we met with hundreds of local residents and received thousands of pieces of feedback.
“We are currently reviewing the feedback we received and working to update our proposals to address issues wherever possible. We have not yet submitted our application for development consent to the Government, but are planning to do so next year, with updated proposals that have been refined by feedback from this consultation and results of ongoing environmental assessments.
“We have committed to a community benefit package to ensure there are local benefits from the project. We have proposed £400 per megawatt, which would amount to £300,000 per year or £18 million for the lifetime of the project, based on the grid connection of 750 MW and maximum lifespan of 60 years. We want to continue to refine our proposals for community benefit in collaboration with the community and local stakeholders, and look forward to further engagement on this issue.
“In order to meet national targets for renewable energy, large scale projects like Whitestone are needed, however, we also continue to support the rooftop revolution and continue to develop our rooftop solar business.”
Developers have said the sites had been selected due to their proximity to Brinsworth substation, which would connect the solar farm to the National Grid and avoid high quality agricultural land.
The project is being developed by Green Nation and Net Zero One who say it would make a significant contribution to national energy goals to reduce energy costs, create energy security and fight against climate change.