Our second stage of community consultation has now closed. Stage Two consultation ran for seven weeks, from Wednesday 29 January to Wednesday 19 March 2025. We would like to thank all those who participated.
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Lime Down Solar Park Limited is a 100% subsidiary of IGP UK Projects Limited, which is in turn a 100% subsidiary of Island Green Power’s UK group holding company, Island Green Power Group Limited. All the companies are registered in England and Wales.
Established in 2013, Island Green Power (IGP) is a leading developer of renewable energy projects.
Over the last decade we have successfully delivered over 34 projects worldwide totalling more than one gigawatt of clean, renewable energy assets. This includes 17 projects in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
This includes the recently consented West Burton Solar Project, which will generate 480 MW of clean energy, enough to power 115,000 homes.
At IGP, we manage the entire development process for our renewable energy projects, from identifying suitable land and assessing feasibility to securing planning permission, grid connection permits, and advancing projects to the notice to proceed stage.
In all we do, we are committed to responsible land use and believe that the development and commercial delivery of utility-scale solar farms can be achieved in harmony with their surroundings.
For more information, please visit the Island Green Power website at: https://www.islandgp.com/
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Island Green Power is bringing forward proposals to build a new solar and energy storage project in Wiltshire, including the underground cable connection into the national grid at Melksham Substation. Known as Lime Down Solar Park, the Project could deliver approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of homegrown, renewable electricity through ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This is enough clean, affordable electricity to power 115,000 homes.
The Project would also include a battery energy storage system, which would provide an important balancing service for the grid, allowing electricity generated by the panels to be stored at times of low demand, then exported onto the system when demand increases.
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The solar park is located entirely within the administrative boundary of Wiltshire. It is proposed as being built across five sites comprising approximately 878 hectares (2,169 acres) located to the north of the M4, southwest of Malmesbury. The electricity generated by the solar park is expected to be exported to the national grid at Melksham Substation by installing an underground cable. This electrical connection will form part of the design for the Project.
To view our latest Project location and site boundary map, please click here to be redirected to our webpage Project Overview.
We have not yet finalised the layout at this stage in the development process. This will evolve based on the findings from environmental and technical surveys we are carrying out and feedback we receive through consultation and engagement.
As part of our Stage Two consultation (29 Jan – 19 March 2025), we presented our refined plans for the Project. Of the 878 hectares proposed, 53 per cent will be utilised for solar panels and associated infrastructure, to support the generation of renewable energy.
The remaining 47 per cent of the land available for the development has been allocated for environmental purposes, including mitigation measures, biodiversity net gain initiatives, ecological enhancements and offsets, all contributing to deliver significant environmental benefits to the local area.
You can find more information regarding the Project as presented during the Stage Two consultation in the Documents section of our website linked here. To keep informed on the Project development process moving forward, please register your details with us by clicking here.
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We have secured a connection agreement with National Grid for the electricity generated by Lime Down Solar Park to be exported into the national electricity transmission system via its existing Melksham substation.
We are proposing to build the connection between the solar park, BESS and Melksham substation by installing underground cables. We are not proposing to build the connection using pylons and overhead lines.
To find out more about how the Project would connect into the grid, please click here to be redirected to our Connecting to the grid webpage.
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The feedback we received during our initial stage of consultation in 2024 helped us understand aspects of the Project that were most important to individuals, groups, and organisations. We then used your feedback, along with the findings from ongoing environmental and technical surveys, to further develop our proposals, which we presented as part of our second stage of consultation (29 Jan – 19 March 2025).
We have sought to develop the Project in a way that responds to the sensitivities of the local landscape, preserves wildlife and habitats, enhances the environment and reduces the impacts on neighbouring communities. During our stage two ‘statutory’ consultation, we presented a number of changes to the Project, including:
A more detailed indicative site layout, comprising a total development area of 878 hectares; 53 per cent of which will be utilised for solar panels and associated infrastructure and 47 per cent has been allocated for environmental purposes, including mitigation measures, biodiversity net gain initiatives, ecological enhancements and offsets.
Collocating the battery storage component of the Project within the solar development areas, therefore no longer proposing to use land near Melksham substation – this increases the distance between the equipment and nearby residences and communities.
Introducing an additional 44 hectares of land to be used to increase buffer zones, putting more distance between solar infrastructure and sensitive areas.
Further refining the cable route search corridor from the three broad routes at Stage One. This will be further refined ahead of DCO application submission later in 2025.
Presenting initial findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Project in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), including measures to reduce any anticipated effects.
We are now reviewing our detailed proposals in light of the feedback received to our second consultation, along with the outcomes of ongoing assessments, and will use this information to finalise the application for development consent we submit to the Planning Inspectorate.
To keep informed on the Project development process moving forward, please register your details with us by clicking here.
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We anticipate that the development process through DCO submission and examination will take between two to three years. We intend to submit our DCO application to PINS in late 2025. Subject to achieving consent, construction could start in mid-2027. We estimate it would take around two years to build, with the site potentially being operational from mid-2029.
Our indicative timeline can be found on The Development Process webpage linked here.
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Lime Down Solar Park will provide a significant amount of clean electricity for business and homes in the region, supporting national and regional aims to decarbonise our electricity systems and bolster our energy security.
The way we consume energy is already changing. The move towards renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels is an environmental and economic necessity. National electricity demand is increasing and expected to double by 2050. To hit our net zero and climate change targets, boosting our solar energy capacity is an essential component.
Solar power is a clean, predictable, homegrown source of energy that gets power into the system and people’s home faster than any other renewable. The Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, published in 2024, sets out the target to more than treble solar power by 2030, equivalent to around 50 gigawatts (GW) of generation capacity (linked here). Expected to deliver 500 megawatts of clean, predictable and affordable energy, Lime Down Solar Park would contribute to the Government target to deliver a cheaper, zero-carbon electricity system by 2030 and accelerate to net zero.
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A Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) is a project over a certain size or scale which means it is considered by the Government to be of national importance.
Lime Down Solar Park is classified as an NSIP because the amount of electricity it is anticipated as delivering (up to 500MW) exceeds the minimum 50MW threshold set out in the Planning Act 2008 which qualifies it as an NSIP.
For projects with a generation capacity of less than 50MW, a developer is required to apply for planning permission from the relevant local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA).
The development regime for an NSIP comes under the Planning Act 2008. This means we need to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build, operate and decommission Lime Down Solar Park to the Planning Inspectorate rather than a local planning authority.
In the case of energy-related NSIPs, the Planning Inspectorate acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. It will carry out an examination of our application for development consent for Lime Down Solar Park and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State on whether to grant consent. The Secretary of State will make the final decision on whether to grant consent for the Project.
While our DCO application will not be submitted to the local planning authority, Wiltshire Council and stakeholder groups will play a key role in the planning process and be consulted as the Project progresses.
You can find more information about the application process for NSIPs on the Planning Inspectorate website here.
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Yes. Public consultation forms an important part of the pre-application process for NSIPs. Early ongoing engagement will serve to inform and influence the design of our project throughout the pre-application stage of the development process; with Wiltshire Council, political representatives, and local communities all having an important role to play.
We are committed to engaging openly throughout the development process, carrying out clear, comprehensive and accessible public consultation before we submit our application. The development of our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park will therefore be an iterative process; structured to make sure that people receive information at the right time so they have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the process from an early stage.
In addition to holding an initial stage of ‘non-statutory’ consultation, we also held a second stage of ‘statutory’ consultation on our updated plans for the Project. These were undertaken ahead of the submission of our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate, which we anticipate submitting later in 2025.
The second stage of consultation is likely to have been the last time we consulted on our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park before submission. However, subject to the Planning Inspectorate accepting our Development Consent Order application for examination, you will be able to register your interest in our proposals with them. The Planning Inspectorate will then keep you informed about the progress of our application as well as further opportunities to inform and contribute to that process.
To find out more about the consultation process and having your say, please visit our Overview of consultation stages webpage linked here.
Our communications lines remain open should you have any questions. To keep informed on the Project development process moving forward, please register your details with us by clicking here.
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Island Green Power offers a community benefits package with the renewable energy schemes that it promotes. We believe those communities living closest to the proposed Project should benefit from it – with these communities being best placed to recommend what a ‘community benefit’ should be.
This is why we invited your ideas and suggestions on this point during our first stage of consultation (in March – April 2024) and our second stage (in January – March 2025). We extend our sincere thanks to all those who submitted feedback on this and let us know their views on what kind of benefits (both onsite and offsite) would be most suitable for the area. We are now reviewing this feedback as we prepare our application for development consent.
Further information on community benefits at this stage remains available via our Community benefits and Biodiversity Net Gain webpage, linked here.
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A well-managed solar farm can be a nature reserve – helping boost and protect wildlife and extend biodiversity. As the panels are set on posts with minimal disturbance to the ground, much of the land is available to support new plants and animal life.
To achieve a biodiversity net gain, our plans should ensure that local wildlife habitats are in a measurably better state than before. We aim to exceed the baseline requirement for developers to boost biodiversity by a minimum 10 per cent, by proposing measures such as:
Delivering substantial new hedgerow and tree planting;
Reinforcing planting at existing hedgerow and field boundaries;
Extensive grassland habitat creation;
Managing grassland habitats under solar PV panels by using a balance of grazing and cutting to maximise ecological benefits; and
Providing enhancement opportunities for habitats of local, regional or national significance.
Our initial findings and measures we are proposing to reduce, enhance and improve the effects the Project may have on the ecology and biodiversity can be found in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) Volume 1: Chapter 7 available here.
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To meet our net zero targets, we need battery storage to store surplus energy generated by renewables for when it is needed. National Grid estimates that over 35.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will be required to meet the UK’s net zero target by 2050 – the BESS we are proposing would deliver storage for up to 250 MW of electricity.
We have listened to feedback from local residents and community stakeholders, particularly those that relate to Battery Energy Storage and working to ensure that our project design approach addresses issues raised. We are committed to delivering a safe and responsible solution that will meet or exceed the latest regulatory and compliance standards, including the National Fire Chief Council Fire Safety Guidelines.
Battery Energy Storage Systems under consideration incorporate several safety features to prevent issues such as overheating or short-circuiting. These include thermal management systems, built-in sensors, and monitoring software to detect and address potential problems early. Alongside, we will conduct thorough safety assessments in collaboration with fire service authorities.
We will submit a comprehensive battery safety management plan to the Planning Inspectorate as part of our application for development consent.
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Lime Down Solar Park Limited, a company within the Island Green Power (‘IGP’) group of companies, proposes to apply for development consent from the Secretary of State to allow it to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a solar energy and energy storage development. This will be known as Lime Down Solar Park (the ‘Project’).
IGP has an 11-year track record in successfully delivering utility-scale solar projects and battery storage systems in the UK, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. As is common practice in the solar industry, Lime Down Solar Park Ltd has been established by IGP as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the Project.
At the initial stage of developing proposals for the Project, Lime Down Solar Park Ltd has entered into option agreements with landowners. These agreements put in place legally binding obligations to lease land that is being proposed for solar panels, substations, energy storage and other associated developments relating to the Project.
The option agreements ensure that the land will be available to lease subject to the Project being granted development consent. These agreements are industry standard and provide landowners with certainty and protection over the use of their land while securing development rights for Lime Down Solar Park. The option agreements give Lime Down Solar Park exclusive rights during both the option period and the lease term.
The agreements set out the duration of the option period when Lime Down Solar Park has sole discretion to decide whether to proceed with taking the lease including conditions under which the option can be exercised and the right to carry out surveys. As with any option agreement, landowners during the option period are restricted from entering into similar agreements or granting interests with other parties without Lime Down Solar Park’s consent and are legally obliged to comply with the terms set out in their agreements.
As a responsible developer, throughout the Project development process, our goal is to work collaboratively with landowners, their land agents and other representatives. Our aim is to ensure that all parties fully understand the legal process including the benefits and obligations from the legal terms and arrangements.
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Lime Down Solar Park will not require any public money, subsidy or funding. This is one of the benefits of solar, compared to other forms of renewable (and non-renewable) energy generation – if the site is commercially viable, and costs are as expected, projects like Lime Down Solar Park can be viably delivered by private investment with no impact to the taxpayer.
Furthermore, the proposals for Lime Down Solar Park include a community benefit package, which we seek to provide to the local area. To determine the specifics of this fund, we are taking into consideration the ideas and suggestions you submitted to us in response to our Stage One and Stage Two consultations. For more information on this, please see above the FAQ ‘How will local communities be able to have their say on our proposals?’
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At the end of the Project’s operational life, all Solar PV Sites would be decommissioned and the land restored to its original use and condition as far as practicable. We expect that most of the solar equipment – including panels, cabling, inverters, BESS and substations – to be recycled and disposed of, in line with industry practice. We expect there to be even greater opportunities for recycling at the end of the Project’s design life.
There will be opportunities for the retention of a range of biodiversity improvements, including established habitats, hedgerows and woodland, beyond the decommissioning of the Project, ultimately enhancing the ecological value of the area.
A requirement to decommission the scheme will be part of the DCO itself; failing to comply with that requirement would be a criminal offence. We will be producing an Outline Decommissioning Strategy as part of the EIA and will submit this with the Development Consent Order (DCO) application. A final decommissioning strategy will be prepared and agreed with the relevant authorities at that time of decommissioning and will include detailed measures and timescales. We expect decommissioning to take between 12 and 24 months.
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As part of the pre-application process for a Development Consent Order (DCO) Application, it is our responsibility to consult parties who hold an interest in any land that is within the draft Order limits for the project. This is a statutory requirement under section 42(d) and section 44 of the 2008 Planning Act.
Following the statutory consultation for Lime Down Solar Park, which took place between Wednesday 29 January and Wednesday 19 March 2025, we are continuing to refine our plans for the Project which include the draft Order limits (i.e. the proposed location area). We are therefore continuing our environmental assessments to better understand the interests that may be held in areas of land that may be included as part of our proposals.
As part of these preliminary assessments, we have sent letters to parties we believe may have land interests affected (along with adjacent owners to unregistered land) by the Lime Down Solar Park proposals. This is to confirm whether the landowners’ contact details obtained from HM Land Registry are up to date, and to ensure that we have correctly identified which parties may have an interest in the relevant land areas.
These parties are those who we may later be required to consult with during our statutory consultation under section 42(d) and section 44 of the 2008 Planning Act.
If you have received an LIQ and require assistance completing the form, please contact a member of the Dalcour Maclaren land referencing team on 03331 885374 or limedownsolarpark@dalcourmaclaren.com
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We are committed to ensuring that the site will not result in any increase in flood risk anywhere else off-site, and we will ensure the Project itself is resilient to current and future flooding risks. This is one of the core design principles for Lime Down Solar Park, listed on our Design Principles webpage linked here.
We are proposing a minimum eight-metre buffers around watercourses, flood-resilient service cabling, and will keep construction activities away from watercourses and drainage ditches. New access tracks will be designed to be permeable, and temporary drainage systems may also be installed during the construction phase to manage runoff and prevent blockages.
There are no significant residual effects for flood risk and water resources during the construction, operation and decommissioning. The assessment will be reviewed and revised where necessary ahead of submission. PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 11: Hydrology, Flood Risk and Drainage (linked here) provides a more detailed overview of the likely effects of the Project and the proposed mitigation.
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The biggest risk to the UK’s domestic food production comes from climate change, and other environmental pressures including soil degradation, water quality and changes in biodiversity. Further information on this is available in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' UK Food Security Report linked here . Our proposals would deliver approximately 500 MW of clean, renewable solar energy and secure a biodiversity net gain. By temporarily taking some farmable land out of production, the Project would also result in improved soil and water quality, given the land will have had time to rest without regular ploughing, fertilising, and spraying with pesticides and herbicides during its 60-year lifetime.
We are carrying out surveys on the agricultural land within the area to identify its Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) grading. 70% of the land surveyed for Lime Down Solar Park so far is non-BMV land. PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 17: Soils and Agriculture provides a more detailed overview of likely effects as a result of the Project. Impacts our Project would have on farmable areas are reversible, and our plans include restoring the land to its original use and condition as far as practicable. Where BMV land is included in the Project, we have worked closely with farmers to use their least productive land where we can.
Tuesday 14 January 2025 - In accordance with Section 47(6) of the Planning Act 2008 (PA2008), in advance of Stage Two Statutory Consultation for Lime Down Solar Park launching, we published a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) setting out how we would carry out the statutory consultation.
A Section 47 Notice was placed in local newspapers to advertise that the SoCC had been published. A Section 48 Notice was also placed in local and national press and the London Gazette to advertise our intention to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for Lime Down Solar Park.
Copies of these documents can be found here.
Stage Two Consultation - January 2025
This consultation has now closed.
This statutory stage of consultation enabled us to present our updated proposals for the solar and energy storage project and provide local communities and interested parties with the opportunity to share their views on how our plans have evolved since the initial consultation we held last year.
Copies of the consultation materials produced to inform this stage of consultation can be found here.
Community information events
Over the course of this consultation, we held eight in-person events and two online webinars. Recordings of the webinars which took place are available to view and download below:
5 February – Online webinar
· Response to outstanding questions
27 February – Online webinar
In advance of our Stage Two consultation, we set out how we would engage with and obtain feedback from local communities and interested parties in our Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), which we developed by working with Wiltshire Council. The SoCC is available for you to view on our Documents webpage linked here.
We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in and provided feedback to this important stage of the development process.
Now that the consultation has closed, we are reviewing all the responses alongside findings from ongoing assessments to help finalise our proposals before submitting an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). We expect to submit the application later this year.
Our final application will include a Consultation Report summarising the feedback received with an explanation of how it has informed the development of our final proposals for the Project.
Overview of consultation stages
Public consultation is a crucial component of the pre-application process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
We are committed to early and continuous engagement to ensure that the development of our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park is informed and shaped by community input. Local communities, residents, and councils play a vital role in this process.
The design process for the proposed development will be iterative and will be informed by feedback received during the two stages of community consultation that are planned for the Project.
Stage One non-statutory consultation – March 2024
We held an initial stage of community consultation that ran for just over six weeks from Thursday 14 March to Friday 26 April 2024.
The aim of this consultation was to introduce Island Green Power and the overall project, and share our early-stage proposals for Lime Down Solar Park to give people the opportunity to share their views and local knowledge.
Feedback to this consultation helped us understand those aspects of the proposed development which people want us to prioritise as we continue to evolve the design for the Project.
You can find out more about this first stage of consultation here.
Further opportunities to contribute
The current second stage of consultation will likely be the last time we consult on our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park before submission.
However, subject to the Planning Inspectorate accepting our Development Consent Order application for examination, you will be able to register your interest in our proposals with them. The Planning Inspectorate will then keep you informed about the progress of our application as well as further opportunities to inform and contribute to that process.
Stage Two statutory consultation – January 2025
We held a second stage of consultation that ran for seven weeks, from Wednesday 29 January to Wednesday 19 March 2025.
This statutory stage of consultation enabled us to present our updated proposals for the solar and energy storage project and provide local communities and interested parties with the opportunity to share their views on how our plans have evolved since the initial consultation we held last year.
Now that the consultation has closed we are reviewing all the responses alongside findings from ongoing assessments to help finalise our proposals before submitting an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). We expect to submit the application later this year.
As the applicant, we have a duty to demonstrate how we have taken your views into account in developing our final proposals for Lime Down Solar Park. The application we submit to PINS will include a Consultation Report summarising all the issues raised in feedback to consultation along with an explanation of how we have taken views into account to develop our final proposals.
This Report, along with all the other application documents will be published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website should our application be accepted for examination.
Our work so far
We used your Stage One feedback and environmental information to inform our updated plans for the Project. The revised proposals we consulted on during the Stage Two consultation were informed by these comments, including in the ways described below:
| YOU SAID: | WE DID: |
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| Protect views and the setting of the Cotswold National Landscape | Our Stage Two proposals included plans for green corridors, reinforced hedgerow and roadside planting, and enhanced riparian planting to reduce visual impacts of the Project. We also created buffers and offsets from homes, vegetation, watercourses and drains, public rights of way, woodland and listed buildings. |
| Reduce impacts on soil quality and agriculture | The Development Area would be returned to its original use and condition when the Project reaches the end of its lifespan. As the land will have been undisturbed during operation and maintenance, the health, quality, and structure of soils within the Solar PV Sites is likely to improve. |
| Safeguard local wildlife and ecology | We proposed specific ecology measures to achieve biodiversity net gain as a result of our Project, including substantial new hedgerow and tree planting, extensive grassland habitat creation and buffer distances to ecological features |
| Protect heritage and archeology assets | We removed panels in areas with archaeological and heritage sensitivities and proposed enhanced screening and offsets to reduce impacts on heritage assets. This includes near the Fosse Way and Fosse Lodge, and both the Alderton and Sherston Conservations Areas. |
| Provide detail on construction and decommissioning | Construction activities would be limited and controlled by a suite of management documents to address the impact of HGVs on local roads and country lanes, and to avoid disrupting the local community and environment wherever possible. The Project would operate for up to 60 years, after which the land would be restored to its original use and condition as far as practicable. |
| Provide more details and visualisations about the Project components | The updated design showed the careful location of built elements, including the proposed solar panels, BESS, substations, and a refined cable route corridor. Visualisations of how the Project could look, including screening, can be found in the PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 8: Landscape and Visual linked here. Details of individual Project components can also be found in PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 3: The Scheme linked here. |
Environmental Impact Assessment
Lime Down Solar Park is classified as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. This requires us to assess the potential significant environmental impacts of our proposed development, as mandated by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.
EIA is the iterative process in which the assessment of environmental impacts is carried out in parallel with the development design process. We will use EIA as a tool to identify the potential effects Lime Down might have on the environment – benefits as well as negative impacts.
The purpose of the EIA process is to make sure that where we identify any significant effects, we put in place measures to reduce any negative impacts, while also seeking to enhance positive effects.
Our initial work has identified a number of environmental considerations which is informing the development of our detailed design for Lime Down Solar Park. A summary of these topics can be found on this webpage below.
EIA is broken down into many topics that we need to assess. These include:
Ecology and biodiversity
Landscape and visual
Cultural heritage
Transport and access
Soils and agriculture
Hydrology flood risk and drainage
Socio-economics, tourism and recreation
Noise and vibration
Climate change
Air quality
Health
Waste
For each of these topics we will assess the impact of the project on them throughout its lifecycle from construction through to operation and decommissioning.
The results of the EIA will be set out in the Environmental Statement (ES) which will be included in our final DCO application.
Measures to reduce effects
We have been getting to know the local environment through site visits, environmental surveys and desk-based information gathering. The results of this work helps shape our project design.
Findings from our ongoing assessments are important in determining the potential impacts the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Project could have on the landscape, environment and local communities. A summary of the initial results from our environmental surveys and assessments can be found in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and have been summarised in the PEIR Non-technical summary available via our Documents webpage linked here. More detailed information is set out in topic specific chapters of the PEIR – Volume 1: Main Report.
Reducing or avoiding impacts is one of our top priorities. In developing our proposals for the Project, we have incorporated a range of measures to minimise its impacts on a range of different factors. A number of topic areas are listed below, with full details and further topic areas provided in the PEIR.
Stage 1: EIA Scoping
On 16 July 2024 we submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). This is available on the PINS webpage for Lime Down Solar Park, linked here.
The purpose of EIA is to comprehensively identify and evaluate the likely significant effects of a proposed development on the environment so we can then determine measures to reduce or manage any likely significant adverse effects.
Production of a Scoping Report is the initial stage of the EIA process. It sets out the proposed scope of the EIA, and our submission of this Report to PINS formed a formal request for a Scoping Opinion under Regulation 10(1) of the EIA Regulations.
Our Scoping Report for Lime Down Solar Park included:
A description of the proposed development, including its location and technical capacity
A description of baseline information and further data to be obtained
The methodologies we will use to assess environmental factors
The proposed scope of the assessments we will carry out
Potential impacts of the Project and associated mitigation
An explanation of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment,
The approach to cumulative assessment.
Over a 42-day period, PINS consulted with various organisations, including the local authority, Statutory Environmental Bodies (SEBs) and other stakeholders with specific expertise and responsibilities related to environmental protection, to gather their views on the scope of the environmental assessment.
PINS then compiled the feedback received and on 22 July 2024 published its ‘Scoping Opinion’. This sets out comments on our proposed approach to EIA, and the topics we need to address in the Environmental Statement (ES) that will be submitted as part of our application for development consent.
A copy of the Scoping Opinion PINS provided us with can be found on the PINS website here.
Stage 2: Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR)
We are required by the Planning Act 2008 to prepare a PEIR.
A core technical document, the PEIR sets out the initial findings of the EIA and identifies the measures we are proposing to reduce, enhance and improve the effects our proposed development may have on the environment.
The PEIR was presented at statutory consultation so technical stakeholders, local communities, individuals and interested parties can develop an informed view of the potential impacts Lime Down may have on the local environment and provide us with their views and feedback.
You can view the PEIR via the Documents – Stage Two Consultation – Jan 2025 webpage linked here.
Stage 3: Environmental Statement (ES)
The results of the EIA will be set out in the ES.
This is being prepared based on the Scoping Opinion and advances the content of the PEIR, incorporating feedback received during statutory consultation and the public and the outcomes of our assessments undertaken.
The ES will describe any changes to the project and the measures we are proposing to implement to reduce, improve or enhance the impacts of the project
The ES, along with a Non-Technical Summary (NTS) will form part of the DCO application we submit to PINS.
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Detailed survey work is being carried out to understand where and what wildlife is currently found across the site so we can identify the potential impacts of our proposals on local species, as well as ways we can protect, promote and enhance wildlife habitats in our plans. These will include:
Breeding bird surveys
Bat surveys
Badger surveys
Great Crested Newt Surveys
Water vole and otter surveys
We are proposing a range of buffers to avoid impacts on ditches, watercourses, ponds, woodland, hedgerows, trees, designated sites and badger setts, bat roosts and nesting sites.
We propose using a technique called Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) for sections of the grid connection route. This involves drilling underground rather than digging open trenches, helping to avoid disturbing priority or sensitive habitats.
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A full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment will be produced so we can identify any potential visual impacts associated with the development we’re proposing and put in place appropriate measures to reduce them. For example, views of equipment could be screened by enhancing existing hedgerows and planting new ones.
We are also committed to going beyond the requirements and plan to undertake a Residential Visual Amenity Assessment which seeks to mitigate potential impacts on private views and amenity. Where appropriate, we will propose bespoke measures to visually reduce the potential impacts of the development for each of the properties that may be impacted.
The Project will be designed to integrate within the landscape and existing vegetation patterns, sensitively aligning with the local landscape characteristics wherever possible.
The design will incorporate minimum offsets from existing landscape features, including residential properties, ancient woodland, woodland and hedgerows, public rights of way and watercourses.
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We recognise the cultural and historical importance of this area of Wiltshire, and are carrying out studies to fully understand the significance of heritage assets in the surrounding area, such as Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Scheduled Monuments.
We have undertaken site visits and desk-based assessment to understand the heritage value of the site, and will carry out detailed ground investigation and archaeological surveys to ensure that any assets are protected and avoided during the construction phase of the project. We will also be undertaking field walking and a geo-physical survey of the entire project area to get a better understanding of the potential for buried archaeology.
We have designed the grid connection route and the Solar PV Sites to avoid direct impacts on archaeologically sensitive areas. Some panels have been entirely removed as a result of archaeological or heritage sensitivities.
To minimise such impacts as far as possible, we are proposing measures such as trenchless construction techniques, appropriate routing of vehicles and avoidance of archaeological remains preserved below ground wherever this is practicable.
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We are evaluating traffic and access considerations, and have undertaken initial site visits to identify the existing access points into Lime Down Solar Park. We will assess the potential impact of our proposals on traffic, and produce a Construction Traffic Management Plan to outline how we will minimise impact on local traffic during construction and operation.
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We are carrying out surveys on the agricultural land within the area to identify its Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) grading. ALC is a framework for classifying land according to its quality and long-term agricultural use. The framework uses a ‘grading’ system to assess its quality – Grade 1 being the highest quality land, and Grade 5 being the lowest. Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land is graded between 1 to 3a, meaning land ranges from ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ quality land. Non-BMV landed is graded from 3b to 5.
Soil and ALC surveys have been completed across most of the Solar PV Sites, BESS Area and substation areas. We are continuing to survey land to the west of the ‘Lime Down C’ site. Final survey results will be contained within the Environmental Statement to be submitted with the DCO application. 70% of the land surveyed for Lime Down Solar Park so far is non-BMV land. PEIR Volume 1, Chapter 17: Soils and Agriculture provides a more detailed overview of likely effects as a result of the Project.
Impacts our Project would have on farmable areas are reversible, and our plans include restoring the land to its original use and condition as far as practicable. Where BMV land is included in the Project, we have worked closely with farmers to use their least productive land where we can.
During the lifespan of the Project, some agricultural land would not be used for arable crops. As land within the Solar PV Sites would be largely undisturbed during this time, there would be the opportunity for improvements in the health, quality, and structure of soil.
In refining the Project’s design, we have sought to locate access tracks, compounds and substation on the lowest quality land available within each parcel. A number of management plans will also be in place to help manage and reduce impacts from the Project. For example, an Outline Soil Management Plan will focus on reducing soil impacts and will include measures for us to monitor the land and soil during construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning (when the Project is taken out of service).
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Emerging flood risk findings from initial research we have carried out indicate that the majority of the project area is located within Flood Zone 1 which is classified as having a ‘low’ risk to flooding. Parts of the Lime Down sites (D and E) are located within Flood Zones 2 and 3, so we will prepare a Flood Risk Assessment in line with the requirements of National Policy Statement for Energy guidance.
Further, we have also identified land between parts of Lime Down sites (B and C) located within Flood Zones 2 and 3.
Additionally, we will conduct a drainage assessment that describes baseline land drainage conditions and existing site runoff rates, also producing a concept strategy for managing site runoff during the operational lifetime of the development, including resilience to climate change.
We are proposing eight metre buffers around watercourses, flood-resilient service cabling, and will keep construction activities away from watercourses and drainage ditches. New access tracks will be designed to be permeable, and temporary drainage systems may also be installed during the construction phase to manage runoff and prevent blockages.
There are no significant residual effects for flood risk and water resources during the construction, operation and decommissioning. The assessment will be reviewed and revised where necessary ahead of submission.
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We recognise the need to deliver Lime Down Solar Park sensitively and make sure we have considered local communities in designing the Scheme. We are therefore seeking to design the project in a way which will maintain amenity and provide continued access to recreational benefits in the local area.
We are committed to keeping Public Rights of Way in place and open to the public. There may be temporary diversions during the construction period for safety reasons.
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We are carrying out baseline noise monitoring at those residential properties closest to the site area to understand the noise levels currently experienced.
Solar developments do not tend to produce a significant amount of noise during operation. However, we will model noise which could arise from the electrical transformers across the site and the cooling equipment associated with the battery storage facility, which has potential to be a source of noise from the development. This is so we can assess any potential impact at the nearest properties and then determine appropriate mitigation to include as part of the design.
We propose to minimise operational noise and vibration impacts by strategically locating the BESS area and substation sites at least 450m and 400m (respectively) from sensitive receptors. After implementing our proposed measures, these impacts would be limited during construction, operation and decommissioning.
We will maintain dialogue with local residents, providing advance notice on any construction activity which could give rise to noise and vibration, and retain a direct project communications channel so people can contact us directly if they have any queries or concerns.
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Climate adaptation mitigation measures are being designed into the Project to ensure surface water is managed appropriately, flood risk is not increased, and impacts to human health receptors are mitigated. We are also assessing impacts on human health as a result of climate change, and the increased likelihood of extreme weather events and combination factors.
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As part of the EIA, we will be undertaking baseline surveys, modelling and assessment of a range of other issues including, but not limited to:
Air Quality
Human Health
Waste
Arboriculture
Ground Conditions
Although our Stage Two consultation has now closed, we continue towelcome any environmental ideas, local initiatives or environmental information you may hold for the project area that could assist with the evolution of the project, our understanding of the baseline environment and assessment of the effects of the proposal on the environment.
Community benefits and Biodiversity Net Gain
As part of our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park, we will support surrounding communities and deliver benefits to the local environment.
Community benefits
Island Green Power offers a community benefits package with the renewable energy schemes that it promotes.
We believe those communities living closest to the proposed Project should benefit from it – with these communities being best placed to recommend what a ‘community benefit’ should be.
This is why we invited your ideas and suggestions on this point during our first stage of consultation (in March – April 2024) and our second stage (in January – March 2025). We extend our sincere thanks to all those who submitted feedback on this and let us know their views on what kind of benefits (both onsite and offsite) would be most suitable for the area.
Some of your suggestions made during our Stage One consultation included:
Ongoing community funding to provide annual revenue for local projects and facilities, such as local churches and major sports projects (e.g. in Chippenham).
Engagement with the community regarding ecological mitigation and enhancement options.
Direct benefits for the local community through access to domestic solar panels and/or reduced energy costs.
Development of wildflower areas to support education for school children, along with wildlife/pollinator corridors to improve biodiversity.
Funding for active travel between communities, including shared and dedicated pedestrian routes to nearby towns and signage for public footpaths/routes (e.g. for a Gastard Nature walk).
We are continuing to investigate potential on-site and off-site initiatives we could support during the lifespan of the Project.
On-site initiatives could be mitigation and enhancement measures inherent within the design of the Project and could include the protection of existing ecological and environmental features, such as woodland, hedgerows and ponds, provision of biodiversity net gain (e.g. through wildflower meadows), or the creation of permissive paths through the site.
We would also like to support off-site initiatives that involve broader community support and are outside of the immediate vicinity of the Project. Examples include a designated ‘Community Benefit Fund’ which could support local charities, groups and educational programmes. Initiatives could also include the provision of solar PV for educational facilities, domestic installations and improvements to existing community initiatives.
We recognise that there is no firm guidance on community benefits and levels of funding. This aspect of our proposals for the Project will continue to evolve, both in response to industry/government-level guidance and your suggestions. For example, the Project could provide funding on an annual basis, proportionate to the Project’s capacity, for the Project’s 60-year lifespan.
Biodiversity net gain (BNG)
A well-managed solar farm can be a nature reserve – helping boost and protect wildlife and extend biodiversity.
As the panels are set on posts with minimal disturbance to the ground, much of the land is available to support new plants and animal life.
From November 2025, there will be a legal requirement for developers of NSIP projects to show their projects will boost biodiversity by a minimum 10 per cent. This means our plans need to ensure that local wildlife habitats are in a measurably better state than before. Lime Down Solar Park could boost local biodiversity through means such as establishing wildflower areas that provide habitats for pollinators and birds, promoting wetland habitats to reduce flood risk and support aquatic and avian life, and restoring hedgerows and native species.
To achieve a biodiversity net gain, our plans should ensure that local wildlife habitats are in a measurably better state than before. We aim to exceed the baseline requirement for developers to boost biodiversity by a minimum 10 per cent, by proposing measures such as:
Delivering substantial new hedgerow and tree planting;
Reinforcing planting at existing hedgerow and field boundaries;
Extensive grassland habitat creation;
Managing grassland habitats under solar PV panels by using a balance of grazing and cutting to maximise ecological benefits; and
Providing enhancement opportunities for habitats of local, regional or national significance.