The Welsh planning authority has granted permission to developer Lightrock Power for a 40MW solar power plant near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
The project, Parc Worlton, is co-owned by Lightrock’s development partner, Bluefield Solar Income Fund. It is the developer’s first project to be located in Wales.
The decision from Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) follows a change to planning rules in Wales, which previously required renewable energy projects with a capacity greater than 10MW to obtain consent directly from the Welsh Government under the Developments of National Significance ( DNS) process. .
Once the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts are signed, Lightrock expects construction to take approximately nine months.
Parc Worlton will deliver a net biodiversity gain of 55%, in line with Lightrock’s commitment to ensure its projects are nature-friendly; it partnered with the RSPB in 2021 and works with wildlife organizations including the UK Wild Otter Trust.
In 2022, the developer worked with the RSPB to ensure its 49.9MW solar power plant in East Devon would benefit the surrounding biodiversity, with strong support from the local community. Similar efforts are now being made by other developers for larger-scale solar PV projects, in an effort to gain local support.
Chris Sowerbutts, co-founder of Lightrock Power, said the company is “extremely proud” of the 55% net biodiversity gain the project will deliver, and thanked the local community for its involvement and feedback.
Parc Wolton is Lightrock’s first project to receive planning permission this year, but together with partner Bluefield, expect a decision on a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the south of England soon, with a planning committee meeting. scheduled for later this week. The development has been recommended for approval.
RSPB supports solar energy
The RSPB’s partnership with Lightrock is not its only collaboration with the UK solar industry. It partnered with Lightsource bp in 2014 and with Anesco in 2016. The charity has also installed a mix of solar and rooftop solar carports at seven of its nature reserves, funded by a £700,000 loan from ethical banking company Triodos .
More recently, it worked with Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on a habitat management plan for the 373 MW Cleve Hill Solar Park, the first project in Britain to be classified as a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
It is also working with British developer Elements Green, which has rebranded an 800MW solar power plant in Nottinghamshire as Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park.
