FAQs

Lime Down Solar Park Limited is a 100% subsidiary of IGP UK Projects Limited, which is in turn a 100% subsidiary of Island Green Power’s UK group holding company, Island Green Power Group Limited. All the companies are registered in England and Wales. 

Established in 2013, Island Green Power (IGP) is a leading developer of renewable energy projects.

IGP has successfully developed 37 solar projects worldwide with a total of more than 2.5 gigawatts of energy capacity. This includes 20 projects in the UK and Republic of Ireland. 

This includes the recently consented West Burton Solar Project, which will generate 480 MW of clean energy, enough to power 115,000 homes.

At IGP, we manage the entire development process for our renewable energy projects, from identifying suitable land and assessing feasibility to securing planning permission, grid connection permits, and advancing projects to the notice to proceed stage.

In all we do, we are committed to responsible land use and believe that the development and commercial delivery of utility-scale solar farms can be achieved in harmony with their surroundings.

For more information, please visit the Island Green Power website at: www.islandgp.com

Island Green Power is bringing forward proposals to build a new solar and energy storage project in Wiltshire, including the underground cable connection into the national grid at Melksham Substation. Known as Lime Down Solar Park, the Project could deliver approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of homegrown, renewable electricity through ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This is enough clean, affordable electricity to power 115,000 homes.

The Project would also include a battery energy storage system, which would provide an important balancing service for the grid, allowing electricity generated by the panels to be stored at times of low demand, then exported onto the system when demand increases.

The solar park is located entirely within the administrative boundary of Wiltshire. It is proposed as being built across five sites comprising approximately 878 hectares (2,169 acres) located to the north of the M4, southwest of Malmesbury. The electricity generated by the solar park is expected to be exported to the national grid at Melksham Substation by installing an underground cable. This electrical connection will form part of the design for the Project.

To view our latest Project location and site boundary map, please click here  to be redirected to our webpage Project Overview.

We have not yet finalised the layout at this stage in the development process. This will evolve based on the findings from environmental and technical surveys we are carrying out and feedback we receive through consultation and engagement.

As part of our Stage Two consultation (29 Jan – 19 March 2025), we presented our refined plans for the Project. Of the 878 hectares proposed, 53 per cent will be utilised for solar panels and associated infrastructure, to support the generation of renewable energy.

The remaining 47 per cent of the land available for the development has been allocated for environmental purposes, including mitigation measures, biodiversity net gain initiatives, ecological enhancements and offsets, all contributing to deliver significant environmental benefits to the local area.

You can find more information regarding the Project as presented during the Stage Two consultation in the Documents section of our website linked here. To keep informed on the Project development process, please register your details with us by clicking here. 

We have secured a connection agreement with National Grid for the electricity generated by Lime Down Solar Park to be exported into the national electricity transmission system via its existing Melksham substation.

We are proposing to build the connection between the solar park, BESS and Melksham substation by installing underground cables. We are not proposing to build the connection using pylons and overhead lines.

To find out more about how the Project would connect into the grid, please click here to be redirected to our Connecting to the grid webpage.

The feedback we received during our initial stage of consultation in 2024 helped us understand aspects of the Project that were most important to individuals, groups, and organisations. We then used your feedback, along with the findings from ongoing environmental and technical surveys, to further develop our proposals, which we presented as part of our second stage of consultation (29 Jan – 19 March 2025).

We have sought to develop the Project in a way that responds to the sensitivities of the local landscape, preserves wildlife and habitats, enhances the environment and reduces the impacts on neighbouring communities. During our stage two ‘statutory’ consultation, we presented a number of changes to the Project, including:

• A more detailed indicative site layout, comprising a total development area of 878 hectares; 53 per cent of which will be utilised for solar panels and associated infrastructure and 47 per cent has been allocated for environmental purposes, including mitigation measures, biodiversity net gain initiatives, ecological enhancements and offsets.

• Collocating the battery storage component of the Project within the solar development areas, therefore no longer proposing to use land near Melksham substation – this increases the distance between the equipment and nearby residences and communities.

• An additional 44 hectares of land to be used to increase buffer zones, putting more distance between solar infrastructure and sensitive areas.

• Further refining the cable route search corridor from the three broad routes at Stage One. This will be further refined ahead of DCO application submission later in 2025.

• Initial findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Project in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), including measures to reduce any anticipated effects.

We are now reviewing our detailed proposals in light of the feedback received to our second consultation, along with the outcomes of ongoing assessments, and will use this information to finalise the application for development consent we submit to the Planning Inspectorate.

To keep informed on the Project development process moving forward, please register your details with us by clicking here.

We anticipate that the development process through DCO submission and examination will take between two to three years. We intend to submit our DCO application to PINS in late 2025. Subject to achieving consent, construction could start in mid-2027. We estimate it would take around two years to build, with the site potentially being operational from mid-2029.

Our indicative timeline can be found on The Development Process webpage linked here.

Lime Down Solar Park will provide a significant amount of clean electricity for business and homes in the region, supporting national and regional aims to decarbonise our electricity systems and bolster our energy security.

The way we consume energy is already changing. The move towards renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels is an environmental and economic necessity. National electricity demand is increasing and expected to double by 2050. To hit our net zero and climate change targets, boosting our solar energy capacity is an essential component.

Solar power is a clean, predictable, homegrown source of energy that gets power into the system and people’s home faster than any other renewable.  The Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, published in 2024, sets out the target to more than treble solar power by 2030, equivalent to around 50 gigawatts (GW) of generation capacity (linked here). Expected to deliver 500 megawatts of clean, predictable and affordable energy, Lime Down Solar Park would contribute to the Government target to deliver a cheaper, zero-carbon electricity system by 2030 and accelerate to net zero.

A Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) is a project over a certain size or scale which means it is considered by the Government to be of national importance.

Lime Down Solar Park is classified as an NSIP because the amount of electricity it is anticipated as delivering (up to 500MW) exceeds the minimum 50MW threshold set out in the Planning Act 2008 which qualifies it as an NSIP.

For projects with a generation capacity of less than 50MW, a developer is required to apply for planning permission from the relevant local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA).

The development regime for an NSIP comes under the Planning Act 2008. This means we need to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build, operate and decommission Lime Down Solar Park to the Planning Inspectorate rather than a local planning authority.

In the case of energy-related NSIPs, the Planning Inspectorate acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. It will carry out an examination of our application for development consent for Lime Down Solar Park and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State on whether to grant consent. The Secretary of State will make the final decision on whether to grant consent for the Project.

While our DCO application will not be submitted to the local planning authority, Wiltshire Council and stakeholder groups will play a key role in the planning process and be consulted as the Project progresses.

You can find more information about the application process for NSIPs on the Planning Inspectorate website here.

Yes. Public consultation forms an important part of the pre-application process for NSIPs. Early ongoing engagement will serve to inform and influence the design of our project throughout the pre-application stage of the development process; with Wiltshire Council, political representatives, and local communities all having an important role to play.

We are committed to engaging openly throughout the development process, carrying out clear, comprehensive and accessible public consultation before we submit our application. The development of our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park will therefore be an iterative process; structured to make sure that people receive information at the right time so they have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the process from an early stage.

We have held two stages of public consultation: an initial stage of ‘non-statutory’ consultation, and a second stage of ‘statutory’ consultation on our updated plans for the Project. These were undertaken ahead of the submission of our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate, which we anticipate submitting later in 2025.

The second stage of consultation is likely to be the last time we consult on our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park before submission. However, subject to the Planning Inspectorate accepting our Development Consent Order application for examination, you will be able to register your interest in our proposals with them. The Planning Inspectorate will then keep you informed about the progress of our application as well as further opportunities to inform and contribute to that process.

To find out more about the consultation process and having your say,  please visit our Overview of consultation stages webpage linked here.

Our communications lines remain open should you have any questions. To keep informed on the Project development process, please register your details with us by clicking here. 

Island Green Power offers a community benefits package with the renewable energy schemes that it promotes. We believe those communities living closest to the proposed Project should benefit from it – with these communities being best placed to recommend what a ‘community benefit’ should be. 

This is why we invited your ideas and suggestions on this point during our first stage of consultation (in March – April 2024) and our second stage (in January – March 2025). Thank you to all those who submitted feedback on this and let us know their views on what kind of benefits (both onsite and offsite) would be most suitable for the area. We are now reviewing this feedback as we prepare our application for development consent.

Further information on community benefits at this stage remains available via our Community benefits and Biodiversity Net Gain webpage, linked here.

A well-managed solar farm can be a nature reserve – helping boost and protect wildlife and extend biodiversity. As the panels are set on posts with minimal disturbance to the ground, much of the land is available to support new plants and animal life.

To achieve a biodiversity net gain, our plans should ensure that local wildlife habitats are in a measurably better state than before. We aim to exceed the baseline requirement for developers to boost biodiversity by a minimum 10 per cent, by proposing measures such as:

• Delivering substantial new hedgerow and tree planting;

• Reinforcing planting at existing hedgerow and field boundaries;

• Extensive grassland habitat creation;

• Managing grassland habitats under solar PV panels by using a balance of grazing and cutting to maximise ecological benefits; and

• Providing enhancement opportunities for habitats of local, regional or national significance.

Our initial findings and measures we are proposing to reduce, enhance and improve the effects the Project may have on the ecology and biodiversity can be found in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) Volume 1: Chapter 7 available here.

To meet our net zero targets, we need battery storage to store surplus energy generated by renewables for when it is needed. National Grid estimates that over 35.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will be required to meet the UK’s net zero target by 2050 – the BESS we are proposing would deliver storage for up to 250 MW of electricity.

We have listened to feedback from local residents and community stakeholders, particularly those that relate to Battery Energy Storage and working to ensure that our project design approach addresses issues raised. We are committed to delivering a safe and responsible solution that will meet or exceed the latest regulatory and compliance standards, including the National Fire Chief Council Fire Safety Guidelines. 

Battery Energy Storage Systems under consideration incorporate several safety features to prevent issues such as overheating or short-circuiting. These include thermal management systems, built-in sensors, and monitoring software to detect and address potential problems early. Alongside, we will conduct thorough safety assessments in collaboration with fire service authorities.

We will submit a comprehensive battery safety management plan to the Planning Inspectorate as part of our application for development consent.

Lime Down Solar Park Limited, a company within the Island Green Power (‘IGP’) group of companies, proposes to apply for development consent from the Secretary of State to allow it to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a solar energy and energy storage development. This will be known as Lime Down Solar Park (the ‘Project’).

IGP has an 11-year track record in successfully delivering utility-scale solar projects and battery storage systems in the UK, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. As is common practice in the solar industry, Lime Down Solar Park Ltd has been established by IGP as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the Project.

At the initial stage of developing proposals for the Project, Lime Down Solar Park Ltd has entered into option agreements with landowners. These agreements put in place legally binding obligations to lease land that is being proposed for solar panels, substations, energy storage and other associated developments relating to the Project. 

The option agreements ensure that the land will be available to lease subject to the Project being granted development consent. These agreements are industry standard and provide landowners with certainty and protection over the use of their land while securing development rights for Lime Down Solar Park. The option agreements give Lime Down Solar Park exclusive rights during both the option period and the lease term. 

The agreements set out the duration of the option period when Lime Down Solar Park has sole discretion to decide whether to proceed with taking the lease including conditions under which the option can be exercised and the right to carry out surveys. As with any option agreement, landowners during the option period are restricted from entering into similar agreements or granting interests with other parties without Lime Down Solar Park’s consent and are legally obliged to comply with the terms set out in their agreements. 

As a responsible developer, throughout the Project development process, our goal is to work collaboratively with landowners, their land agents and other representatives. Our aim is to ensure that all parties fully understand the legal process including the benefits and obligations from the legal terms and arrangements.

Lime Down Solar Park will not require any public money, subsidy or funding. This is one of the benefits of solar, compared to other forms of renewable (and non-renewable) energy generation – if the site is commercially viable, and costs are as expected, projects like Lime Down Solar Park can be viably delivered by private investment with no impact to the taxpayer.

Furthermore, the proposals for Lime Down Solar Park include a community benefit package, which we seek to provide to the local area. To determine the specifics of this fund, we are taking into consideration the ideas and suggestions you submitted to us in response to our Stage One and Stage Two consultations. For more information on this, please see above the FAQ ‘How will local communities be able to have their say on our proposals?’

At the end of the Project’s operational life, all Solar PV Sites would be decommissioned and the land restored to its original use and condition as far as practicable. We expect that most of the solar equipment – including panels, cabling, inverters, BESS and substations – to be recycled and disposed of, in line with industry practice. We expect there to be even greater opportunities for recycling at the end of the Project’s design life.

There will be opportunities for the retention of a range of biodiversity improvements, including established habitats, hedgerows and woodland, beyond the decommissioning of the Project, ultimately enhancing the ecological value of the area.

A requirement to decommission the scheme will be part of the DCO itself; failing to comply with that requirement would be a criminal offence. We will be producing an Outline Decommissioning Strategy as part of the EIA and will submit this with the Development Consent Order (DCO) application. A final decommissioning strategy will be prepared and agreed with the relevant authorities at that time of decommissioning and will include detailed measures and timescales. We expect decommissioning to take between 12 and 24 months.

As part of the pre-application process for a Development Consent Order (DCO) Application, it is our responsibility to consult parties who hold an interest in any land that is within the draft Order limits for the project. This is a statutory requirement under section 42(d) and section 44 of the 2008 Planning Act. 

Following the statutory consultation for Lime Down Solar Park, which took place between Wednesday 29 January and Wednesday 19 March 2025, we are continuing to refine our plans for the Project which include the draft Order limits (i.e. the proposed location area). We are therefore continuing our environmental assessments to better understand the interests that may be held in areas of land that may be included as part of our proposals.

As part of these preliminary assessments, we have sent letters to parties we believe may have land interests affected (along with adjacent owners to unregistered land) by the Lime Down Solar Park proposals. This is to confirm whether the landowners’ contact details obtained from HM Land Registry are up to date, and to ensure that we have correctly identified which parties may have an interest in the relevant land areas.

These parties are those who we may later be required to consult with during our statutory consultation under section 42(d) and section 44 of the 2008 Planning Act.

If you have received an LIQ and require assistance completing the form, please contact a member of the Dalcour Maclaren land referencing team on 03331 885374 or limedownsolarpark@dalcourmaclaren.com

We are committed to ensuring that the site will not result in any increase in flood risk anywhere else off-site, and we will ensure the Project itself is resilient to current and future flooding risks. This is one of the core design principles for Lime Down Solar Park, listed on our Design Principles webpage linked here.

We are proposing a minimum eight-metre buffers around watercourses, flood-resilient service cabling, and will keep construction activities away from watercourses and drainage ditches. New access tracks will be designed to be permeable, and temporary drainage systems may also be installed during the construction phase to manage runoff and prevent blockages.

There are no significant residual effects for flood risk and water resources during the construction, operation and decommissioning. The assessment will be reviewed and revised where necessary ahead of submission. PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 11: Hydrology, Flood Risk and Drainage (linked here) provides a more detailed overview of the likely effects of the Project and the proposed mitigation.

The biggest risk to the UK’s domestic food production comes from climate change, and other environmental pressures including soil degradation, water quality and changes in biodiversity. Further information on this is available in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' UK Food Security Report linked here . Our proposals would deliver approximately 500 MW of clean, renewable solar energy and secure a biodiversity net gain. By temporarily taking some farmable land out of production, the Project would also result in improved soil and water quality, given the land will have had time to rest without regular ploughing, fertilising, and spraying with pesticides and herbicides during its 60-year lifetime.

We are carrying out surveys on the agricultural land within the area to identify its Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) grading. 70% of the land surveyed for Lime Down Solar Park so far is non-BMV land. PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 17: Soils and Agriculture provides a more detailed overview of likely effects as a result of the Project. Impacts our Project would have on farmable areas are reversible, and our plans include restoring the land to its original use and condition as far as practicable. Where BMV land is included in the Project, we have worked closely with farmers to use their least productive land where we can.