Government Gives Go Ahead for UK’s Biggest Solar Farm to be Built

The application for the development of the UK’s largest ever solar farm has been approved by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net-Zero. This is all part of the UK government’s drive to increase solar power fivefold by 2035 up to 70GW, enough to power around 20 million homes.  

 

Despite the government setting these targets earlier this year, the cross-party Environmental Audit committee (EAC) warned Secretary Grant Shapps of Energy Security and Net Zero, that the UK is at risk of falling short of the 2035 goal if they do not proceed with prompt and decisive measures.

The 500MW Longfield Solar Farm located near Chelmsford in Essex will be big enough to power more than 60,000 homes annually. It will be spread across approximately 380 hectares of intensive arable farmland near Terling and will have the potential to generate enough electricity to meet four times the energy needs of all the new homes planned for Chelmsford in the next 13 years.

The application from EDF Renewables and Padero Solar included a solar photovoltaic array generating station with a maximum generating capacity of 500MW co-located with battery storage, and grid connection infrastructure to export or import electricity to and from the National Grid. The EDF Renewables venture, is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Longfield Solar Energy Farm Limited on 28 February 2022 and officially accepted for Examination on 28 March 2022. Following an Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 18 April 2023.

This was the 124^th Nationally Significant Infrastructure project and 71^st energy application to have been examined by The Planning Inspectorate within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Paul Morrison said:

“The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this examination. The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.”

The Longfield Solar Farm project was finally approved on Monday, 26^th June 2023.

EDF Renewables’ head of solar, Ben Fawcett, said:

 

“I am delighted that, after months of careful consideration, the Government has given planning consent for Longfield Solar Farm. It is a significant endorsement of our proposals. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our consultation and the public examination. The feedback we received from residents, local authorities, environmental groups, and many others has helped shape our plans. We will continue to work closely with them to make sure we minimise the impact of construction and maximise the huge opportunities for the area.”

There were some concerns raised about loss of agricultural land and damage to biodiversity, but the Planning Inspectorate recommended its approval. Further to that, David Wagstaff, deputy director of energy infrastructure planning at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said the plans would "achieve measurable net gain in biodiversity". He added that there was an "urgent need for additional electricity generating capacity" and the development would support the growth of renewable energy and "make a meaningful contribution to the UK's transition to low carbon energy generation".

 

Crucially, in these times of very high energy costs, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said the site would "deliver cheaper energy for consumers and businesses".

 

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“The UK already has enough solar power installed to power four million homes, and this new development of Longfield, the UK’s largest capacity consented solar farm, will help ensure we fully harness the power of the sun and boost our energy security.  With a capacity to power tens of thousands of homes, Longfield will help deliver cheaper energy for consumers and businesses and create long-term, high-quality jobs of the future."

The government’s new Solar Taskforce is looking to ramp up the installation of solar on commercial sites, including offices, schools, warehouses, and car parks. The Taskforce is led by Energy Minister Graham Stuart and Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett. The taskforce also claims that floating solar installations, alongside well-managed ground-mounted solar sites on farms, could help improve energy and food security without taking up much land.

The latest statistical review of World Energy report shows that electricity generation from renewables in the UK was 39.7% of total energy consumption in 2022 with a 24% increase in solar energy generation.