New secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, has given development consent to three major solar power projects in the east of England.
Gate Burton Energy Park in Lincolnshire, Mallard Pass in Rutland and Lincolnshire, and Sunnica in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will have a capacity more than five times larger than the current largest solar farm in the country. Together, they will be able to power more than 400,000 homes.
Sunnica and Gate Burton will each have a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), while Mallard Pass will have a capacity of 350MW.
The plans are part of the new government’s “rooftop revolution”, which aims to fit millions of homes with photovoltaic solar panels to tackle the climate emergency and bring down energy bills.
Miliband has promised to triple the amount of solar power in the UK by 2030, The Guardian reported. “I want to unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution,” he said. “We will encourage builders and homeowners in whatever way we can to deliver this win-win technology to millions of addresses in the UK so people can provide their own electricity, cut their bills and at the same time help fight climate change.”
Onshore windfarms ban reversal
Miliband’s move is a reversal of the Conservatives’ de facto ban on onshore windfarms by placing onshore wind on the same footing as other energy developments in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Mike Rutgers, managing director of UK development at Low Carbon, the renewable energy company developing Gate Burton Energy Park, said: “We are delighted that the new secretary of state has granted consent on the Gate Burton Energy Park, allowing us to progress to the construction phase of the project and reaffirming our position as the market leader for UK solar.
“As Gate Burton progresses, we look forward to continuing to engage closely with local residents, business owners and other key stakeholders to ensure we deliver this project responsibly.”
However, two Conservative senior councillors at Lincolnshire County Council reacted negatively to the developments’ approval.
“The news that proposals for giant industrial solar parks for both Mallard’s Pass and Gate Burton have been approved is deeply disappointing for all those who will have to live with these huge developments on their doorstep,” said Colin Davie, the county council’s executive councillor for economy and environment.
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, councillor Martin Hill, added: “Be in no doubt that these are huge-scale developments that will change our county landscapes dramatically. Both proposals are expected to cover around 2,000 acres each.
"The speed with which these decisions have been taken shows that this government is not prepared to listen to communities, local councils and all those fighting for our countryside. The sheer volume of paperwork associated with these proposals means that in no way could these be seen as carefully considered decisions.”
