The Project

Construction, operation and decommissioning

If development consent is granted, construction of Lime Down Solar Park is expected to take around two years. The solar park would then operate for up to 60 years, after which it would be decommissioned and the land restored as far as practicable.

Construction

Construction of the underground grid connection cables is anticipated to take approximately 18 months, while construction of the Solar PV Sites is expected to take around 24 months. These activities could take place at the same time.

Construction of the grid connection would involve laying underground cables, using trenchless methods where required, constructing jointing bays to connect the cables, and testing and commissioning the electrical infrastructure.

Construction of the Solar PV Sites would involve site preparation, the creation of temporary construction compounds, improvements to existing access points and the installation of solar panels, mounting structures and associated electrical infrastructure, including inverters, transformers, switchgear and the battery energy storage system (BESS). Fencing, security infrastructure and landscaping would also be installed.

Working hours

During construction, core on-site working hours would be:

  • Monday to Friday: 7:00am to 6:00pm

  • Saturday: 8:00am to 1:30pm

During the winter months, working hours would be shorter to account for reduced daylight.

Work may occasionally need to take place outside these hours in an emergency or where activities need to be undertaken continuously, such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), a method used to install underground cables without excavating an open trench.

Construction traffic and site access

We recognise the importance of managing construction traffic to minimise disruption to local communities and road users.

Construction vehicles would use designated access points and routes, with measures proposed to manage vehicle movements and minimise impacts on the local highway network. These include shuttle buses to transport construction workers to and from the area.

The main proposed access arrangements include:

  • Lime Down A, B and C: Access from the road between Ladyswood and Sherston, near the SHER37 Byway, and from the Fosse Way.

  • Lime Down D and E: Access from Bradfield Cottages Road and the A429.

Construction traffic routes would make use of roads including the M4, A46, B4040, B4039 and A429, alongside local roads serving the Solar PV Sites.

The Environmental Statement assesses up to 74 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) deliveries per day across the Solar PV Sites during the peak construction period. Deliveries would be directed to construction compounds, with equipment and materials transported within the sites where practicable to minimise movements on local roads.

Some temporary highway improvements would also be required to accommodate construction vehicles. These works would be subject to the relevant approvals and management arrangements.

Abnormal loads

Some larger pieces of electrical equipment, including transformers, would need to be delivered using Abnormal Indivisible Load (AIL) vehicles. These are vehicles carrying equipment that cannot reasonably be divided into smaller loads for transportation.

Temporary highway measures may be required along the proposed delivery routes, including temporary surfacing or other alterations to allow larger vehicles to pass safely. These measures would be removed following the relevant deliveries, where appropriate.

AIL movements would be planned to minimise disruption to local road users and could require temporary traffic management, road closures or police escorts.

Construction controls 

A series of outline management documents has been prepared as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application, setting out how construction activities would be managed to avoid or reduce impacts on the environment and local communities.

These include:

  • Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP): Setting out measures to manage and monitor construction traffic, minimise disruption to road users and limit congestion.

  • Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP): Setting out measures to manage environmental impacts during construction.

  • Outline Soil Management Plan (SMP): Setting out measures to minimise impacts on agricultural land and soils during construction, operation and decommissioning.

  • Outline Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP): Setting out measures to manage waste, including opportunities for reuse and recycling.

  • Outline Public Right of Way Management Plan (PRoWMP): Setting out how public rights of way would be managed and access safeguarded as far as practicable.

  • Outline Skills, Supply Chain and Employment Plan (SSCEP): Setting out measures to promote employment, apprenticeships and opportunities for local workers and suppliers.

If development consent is granted, further detailed management plans would be prepared and approved in accordance with the relevant DCO requirements before construction begins. Measures for continual monitoring and review will be put in place to ensure impacts are minimised throughout the construction phase. 

For further information about the construction proposals and associated management measures, please visit the Planning Inspectorate's Lime Down Solar Park documents page.

Operation

Lime Down Solar Park is expected to operate for up to 60 years.

During the operational phase, on-site activity would mainly involve vegetation management, equipment maintenance and servicing, replacement of components, periodic fence inspections and system monitoring. Activities along the cable route would generally be limited to routine inspections and maintenance where necessary.

A team of up to 15 staff is anticipated to be employed, primarily working off-site and monitoring the project remotely, alongside occasional routine visits. The main operational access would be via Bradfield Cottages Road.

Some electrical infrastructure would need to be replaced during the operational life of the project. For example, the solar panels may need to be replaced during this period, alongside the replacement of individual defective or damaged components as required.

Decommissioning

At the end of the project's operational life, the Solar PV Sites would be decommissioned in phases, with land restored to its previous use and condition as far as practicable.

Most of the solar equipment, including panels, mounting structures, inverters, transformers, BESS and substations, would be removed, with opportunities for reuse and recycling considered in accordance with industry practices at that time.

There may also be opportunities to retain biodiversity improvements established during the operation of the solar park, including habitats, hedgerows and woodland, providing lasting environmental benefits beyond the life of the project.

An Outline Decommissioning Strategy was submitted as part of the DCO application. This anticipates that decommissioning would take approximately 12 to 24 months. Detailed arrangements would be developed and agreed with the relevant authorities closer to the time, in accordance with the requirements of any DCO granted.

For more information about the proposed approach to decommissioning, please see the Outline Decommissioning Strategy, submitted as part of the DCO application.