UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has granted planning consent for two large-scale solar projects in England, totaling almost 900 megawatts (MW) of capacity. The approval covers Ecotricity's 500MW Heckington Fen and Island Green Power's 480MW West Burton projects, though the latter's capacity will be reduced by around 20% due to a design amendment.
The West Burton project, located along the Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire border, will connect to the 400kV West Burton substation. However, approval was granted on the condition that a section of the solar panels originally planned for land at Stow Park, a former deer park, would be removed. This change is expected to reduce the project's overall capacity by approximately 104MW, according to the developer.
Despite the reduction, Miliband noted in the decision notice that the project would still contribute significantly to the UK's energy transition, stating that it would provide “a substantial contribution to meeting the urgent need for utility-scale solar PVs, and result in considerable carbon savings, supporting the trajectory to net zero.”
Meanwhile, the 500MW Heckington Fen project, located on agricultural land near North Kesteven in Lincolnshire, has been cleared for development. The project will connect to the grid via underground cables to the 400kV Bicker Fen substation, with a connection date set for October 2028.
Both projects had their Development Consent Order applications delayed last year to allow developers to address concerns with external stakeholders.
Bob Psaradellis, Chief Executive of Island Green Power, welcomed the decision, saying, “This welcome decision is another important milestone towards the government's ambition of tripling solar power and transitioning the UK to clean, home-grown, renewable energy.” He added that West Burton would provide “lasting benefits to the local area including improvements to biodiversity, job creation, and direct funding for important causes.
Tara Chopra, Technical Director at Lanpro, which provided planning services for West Burton, also praised the decision, noting that it was “a strong reflection of the current government's commitment to renewable energy.” Chopra expressed optimism that it would lead to more favorable outcomes for the renewable sector.
