FAQs
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Lime Down Solar Park is a 100 per cent subsidiary of IGP UK Projects Limited, which is in turn a 100 per cent subsidiary of Island Green Power’s UK group holding company, Island Green Power Group Limited. Island Green Power Group Limited (or Island Green Power) is a leading developer of renewable energy projects that specialises in utility-scale solar and battery storage systems. Our mission is to help the UK increase solar energy usage and make more renewable energy possible whilst drastically reducing carbon emissions.
Since 2013, we have successfully completed over 34 solar projects worldwide, generating one gigawatt of capacity, including 17 projects in the UK and Ireland. Our UK-based team, operating from offices in London and Norwich, is supported by a network of specialist advisors, consultants and technical experts.
At Island Green Power, 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: https://www.islandgp.com/
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Island Green Power is bringing forward proposals to build a new utility scale solar and battery energy storage project on land near Malmesbury in North Wiltshire.
Known as Lime Down Solar Park, the development would comprise the installation of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panel and a battery energy storage system (BESS), plus infrastructure to connect the solar park to the national grid at Melksham substation via an underground cable so electricity it generates can be made available to the UK’s homes and businesses.
The project is anticipated as being able to deliver up to 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This is enough clean, affordable energy to power around 115,000 homes annually.
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The solar park is located entirely within the administrative boundary of Wiltshire. It is proposed as being build across five sites comprising approximately 900 hectares (2,224 acres) located to the north of the M4, southwest of Malmesbury. A sixth site is located on land near Melksham substation, approximately 20 kilometres (km) to the south of the solar development sites. This site has been identified as one of two potential sites on which a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) could be located.
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.
Studies are being carried out to identify the exact route an underground cable will follow to make the connection. At this stage we have identified three broad corridors within which a cable could be routed as follows:
South from the 400kV substation, south across the M4 near Sevington then east of Yatton Keynell. Then running south across the A420, then west of Gastard and east of Corsham until it reaches Melksham substation.
South from the 400kV substation, south across the M4 near Leigh Delamere then west of Kington St. Michael, across the A420 road, east of Gastard and West of Notton.
A route that broadly follows the A350 road having run south from M4 junction 17.
We have not yet finalised the layout at this early stage in the development process, as this will evolve based on the findings from environmental and technical surveys we are carrying out and feedback we receive through consultation and engagement. We are grateful for feedback we have received to our Stage One community consultation regarding the proposed locations for solar, BESS and cabling and are reviewing your comments to determine which may be the most suitable to the local community and environment.
Preliminary environmental work is also currently being undertaken to determine where we would locate equipment, with assessments also being carried out to identify those areas that will be set aside to create new or enhancing existing habitats, as well as buffer zones to maintain a respectful distance between infrastructure and existing homes, landscape, ecological features, and Public Rights of Way.
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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 cable. We are not proposing to build the connection using pylons and overhead lines.
All the proposed routes we have identified a connection could follow have been based on using underground cabling methods.
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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 would start no earlier than 2027.
Our indicative timeline can be found on The Development Process page here.
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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 Make Britain a clean energy superpower, published 2024, specifically aims to more than triple solar power by 2030, equivalent to around 50 gigawatts of generation capacity.
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 (linked here).
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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.
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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.
Before submitting our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate we plan to conduct two stages of consultation to invite feedback on proposals.
We held an initial stage of ‘non-statutory’ consultation March to April 2024. While not formally required, this first stage of consultation was intended to provide local communities and interested parties with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the development we are proposing so they could tell us about any issues or concerns they would like us to consider as we progress the design for the project.
You can find out more about Stage One Consultation here.
The next stage of consultation we carry out will be statutory consultation as required by the application process for NSIPs. This statutory consultation will run for seven weeks, from Wednesday 29 January to Wednesday 19 March 2025, with in-person and online information events anticipated as running throughout February.
Ahead of consultation taking place, we will publish a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC). This will set out how we engage with and obtain feedback from local communities and residents on our detailed proposals for Lime Down Solar Park.
This second stage of consultation will give people the opportunity to comment on our updated proposals and how they have evolved since the first stage of consultation. Areas we will be specifically seeking views and comments on include:
The location of equipment for the solar arrays
The route of an underground cable connection from the solar park to Melksham substation
How we propose to build the Project
The measures we are proposing to mitigate the effects of the project
We will review our detailed proposals in light of feedback we receive from this second consultation, along with the outcomes from ongoing assessments, so we can finalise and submit our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate.
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We believe those communities closest to the proposed development should benefit from it – with these communities being best placed to recommend what they believe a ‘community benefit’ should be. The proposals will be designed to considerately respond to the landscape in and around the Site, including existing and new paths and open spaces. Lime Down Solar Park could provide opportunities for public access and recreation, improving amenity resources in the area.
We are committed to working with local communities to identify and define community benefits and we want to hear your suggestions on local schemes and projects we could support or deliver to benefit those communities closest to the project.
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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 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.
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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.
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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. We invite your ideas and suggestions to determine the specifics of this fund, which will be decided as we move forward.
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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.
In preparation for the statutory consultation for Lime Down Solar Park, set to take place between Wednesday 29 January and Wednesday 19 March 2025, we are refining our plans for the project which include the draft Order limits (i.e. the proposed location area). We are therefore undertaking preliminary 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 therefore 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.