We have today published a Consultation Summary Report setting out the findings from Stage One community consultation. The report outlines the key themes raised in feedback submitted to the initial consultation we held earlier this year and explains how this, together with the outcome of environmental assessments, is being used to develop and refine our proposals.
Welcome
Island Green Power is developing proposals to build a new solar and battery energy storage project along with the infrastructure needed to export the electricity it generates onto the national grid.
Lime Down is proposed as being built on land near Malmesbury in North Wiltshire. The electricity generated by the proposed solar park would be exported via an underground cable connection into the existing national electricity transmission system at Melksham substation.
The project is anticipated as being able to deliver up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity through ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV panels). This is enough clean, affordable electricity to power approximately 115,000 homes every year.
The UK has set ambitious climate change targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to ensure that the energy supply remains secure, reliable, and affordable. Together with legally binding commitments such as these, the UK Government has further set out how the deployment of renewable technologies such as solar will be accelerated in the latest plan Powering Up Britain (April 2023). Lime Down could make a vital contribution to achieving these targets by ensuring the supply of clean, affordable electricity to UK consumers when it’s needed.
The amount of electricity Lime Down Solar Park could generate is exceeds 50MW. It is therefore classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The development consenting regime for a NSIP comes under the Planning Act 2008. This means to get permission to build and operate the solar park we need to apply to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO). We anticipate submitting our application to the Planning Inspectorate in Autumn 2025.
Where we are now
On 24 October 2024, we published the findings from Stage One community consultation. The Consultation Summary Report outlines the key themes raised in feedback to initial consultation on our proposals, and explains how this, along with the outcome from environmental assessments, is being used to develop and refine our design for the project.
We anticipate a second statutory stage of consultation will be held early 2025. This will provide local communities and interested parties with the opportunity to view and comment on our updated design for Lime Down Solar Park.
If you would like to be updated directly as further information about the project and future consultation becomes available, please register your details with us here.
