Low Carbon has unveiled plans to develop a 500MW solar and energy storage park in Kent, southern England. The South Kent Energy Park will be located on a 600-hectare site near Old Romney, within the Folkestone and Hythe District, and spans land between Brenzett to the northwest and New Romney to the east, along the A259.
The project, which is still in the early stages of development, aims to contribute significantly to the UK's decarbonisation targets by providing a clean, secure, and affordable energy source. As part of its development, Low Carbon has initiated the first phase of community outreach, inviting local residents and businesses to engage with the project through in-person and online events.
James Hartley-Bond, project development director at Low Carbon, emphasized the importance of community collaboration in shaping the project. “We want to give the local community the opportunity to collaborate with us and shape the project from an early stage of the design process,” he said.
South Kent Energy Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, and its development will require an application for development consent to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. If approved, the project will play a pivotal role in supporting the UK's renewable energy ambitions and its transition to a low-carbon economy.
