UK-based developer Infrabee has received planning permission for a 15MW solar project in the New Forest, southern England. The £8.5 million solar farm will be located near Walkford Farm, close to the border of Bransgore and New Milton in Hampshire.
The development is set to support the UK's net zero targets by generating renewable energy while offering additional benefits, including job creation and a diversified income stream for a local farm business. The solar farm is also expected to contribute £2.3 million in business rates over its operational lifespan.
In addition to its renewable energy output, the project will enhance local biodiversity. Infrabee plans to introduce species-rich grass, wildflowers, and new hedgerows around the site, which is projected to increase the area's biodiversity by 122%.
The New Forest solar farm is part of Infrabee's broader renewable energy strategy, which includes developing solar and battery storage sites across the UK and Europe. There are currently 25 sites under development or construction in the UK, with five expected to connect to the grid in the next 18 months. The remaining projects are anticipated to be operational within the next four years.
Among these, two significant sites, Costock (66MW) in Nottinghamshire and Burton Top (10MW) near Harrogate, recently secured contracts in the UK government's sixth Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round. The CfD scheme provides long-term revenue stability for renewable energy producers, and both sites achieved a strike price of £50.07/MW.
Infrabee, a joint venture between real estate firm Boultbee Brooks and infrastructure developer Infraland, aims to scale up clean energy production across the UK. “We are delighted that the various projects we have embarked on are beginning to show the fruits of our and the wider team's labour. This is a truly exciting double win for the team,” said Henry Brown, Director of Infrabee.
The New Forest solar farm is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to removing approximately 2,140 petrol cars from the road over the next 40 years, reinforcing its role in combatting climate change.
