Following planning, EIA and environmental expertise supplied by Lanpro, Island Green Power’s West Burton Solar Project has received the go-ahead from Secretary of State Ed Milliband.

The West Burton Solar Project will provide solar and energy storage in several land parcels in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, approximately 7.4km to the south and up to 14.6km southeast of Gainsborough in the local authority of West Lindsey District Council.

This Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) will provide three electricity generating stations, each with anticipated capacity in excess of 50MW, comprising ground mounted solar arrays, with associated development comprising energy storage, grid connection infrastructure and other infrastructure integral to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the NSIPs.

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On completion the project is set to:

• Supply up to 480 MW of clean electricity to the National Grid. For context, that’s equivalent to the energy needed to power around 144,000 homes and replace around 24% of the capacity of the coal powered West Burton Power Station.
• Support regional and national targets for reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050
• Improve energy resilience by diversifying energy production and storing energy for when it is needed most
• Contribute towards strategic improvements to local ecology and biodiversity
• Deliver affordable energy, as the electricity generated from solar is already cheaper than electricity generated from fossil fuels and the project would be subsidy free without taxpayer funding

Tara Chopra, Technical Director (EIA and Major Infrastructure) at Lanpro commented, “We are delighted with the outcome of the Secretary of State’s announcement today for West Burton, which marks the successful conclusion of three years of dedicated work by Lanpro for Island Green Power.

“This decision enables the project to deliver affordable, clean energy to hundreds of thousands of households across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It plays a vital role in advancing the nation’s Net Zero goals. Again, this is a strong reflection of the current government’s commitment to renewable energy, and we are optimistic that it will lead to more favourable outcomes for our clients in the renewable sector.”

In preparing the planning application, Lanpro worked alongside Pinsent Masons (legal advisor), Dalcour Maclaren (land referencing) and Counter Context (communications).