EDF Renewables UK has received planning consent from Mid Suffolk District Council for the Tye Lane Solar Farm in Suffolk, a 49.9MW project located northwest of Bramford. The approval follows a thorough consultation process, and the solar farm is expected to contribute significantly to low-carbon electricity generation.
The Tye Lane Solar Farm aims to generate sufficient low-carbon electricity to meet the annual domestic needs of over 14,500 households, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of around 17,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. EDF Renewables UK plans to establish a community benefit fund of £20,000 annually for the project's 35-year lifespan, supporting local social, environmental, and community initiatives.
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Darren Cuming, Head of Development at EDF Renewables UK, expressed satisfaction with the planning consent, emphasizing the company's commitment to solar technology as a key driver toward a net-zero future.
In addition to the community fund, the project includes initiatives to enhance local biodiversity, such as planting extensive species-rich wildflower and grass margins, creating woodland blocks, establishing new hedgerows, and installing bird and bat boxes.
With planning consent secured, EDF Renewables UK is now planning the next steps for the Tye Lane Solar Farm, with construction anticipated to commence in the coming year. The construction phase is estimated to last approximately 6-9 months, with the grid connection route running south of the site across arable fields to the Bramford substation. The project aligns with the broader efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy and advance the goals of a sustainable, low-carbon future.