Consultation

Stage One consultation summary

Our first stage of community consultation has now closed. Our Stage One Consultation ran for six weeks, from Thursday 14 March 2024 to Friday 26 April 2024. 

The purpose of this consultation was to introduce Island Green Power, present our early proposals for Lime Down Solar Park, and give you the opportunity to provide your feedback. We would like to thank all those who have participated in our first round of community consultation, whether this has been through attending one of our events, contacting our communications channels, or providing feedback. 

Where we are now 

We are now reviewing all of the comments submitted to us during the Stage One consultation to shape a strong set of proposals that are sensitive to and respect concerns of local communities. Our focus is on providing accurate and honest information to build an understanding of how Lime Down Solar Park can cheap generate low carbon energy, bring benefits while minimising adverse impacts on the local environment and surrounding communities. 

We will soon produce a Stage One Consultation Summary Report which will include a summary of the feedback submitted to this consultation along with an overview of how we’ve taken your views into account as we continue to develop our proposals. If you would like to be notified directly when the Consultation Summary Report is made available, or receive information about future engagement and the next stage of consultation we will carry out on our more detailed proposals for Lime Down Solar Park, please click here to register your details with us.

Next steps

We are will currently reviewing all the comments we received during our Stage One Consultation. Together with the findings from our ongoing environmental and technical studies, we will use your feedback to help us refine our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park ahead of further consultation later this year. 

During this second statutory stage of consultation we will be asking you for your views on: 

  • Our updated design for the solar park, including the location of equipment 

  • The route an underground cable could follow to connect the solar park into the national grid 

  • How we are proposing to build the project 

  • The measures we are proposing to put in place to reduce the impact of the project  

We will review our detailed proposals in light of the feedback received from this second consultation, along with the outcomes of ongoing assessments, to finalise and submit our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate.  

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 the Planning Inspectorate 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 Inspectorates website should our application be accepted for examination. We will email or write to those who have taken part in the consultation to let you know when this information is available to view.  

Further opportunities to contribute 

The second stage of consultation we hold will likely be the last time we consult on our proposals for Lime Down Solar Park. However, subject to our application being accepted for examination, you will be able to register your interest in our proposals with the Planning Inspectorate who will then keep you informed about its progress and provide you with information on further opportunities available for you to inform and contribute to the project development process.  

Community Information Events 

We held a series of in-person and online exhibition events during the first stage of consultation, providing opportunities for the community and key stakeholders alike to find out more information about the proposals and provide their feedback. We are grateful to everyone who attended our consultation events during this first stage of consultation. 

  • Friday 22 March 15:30pm – 19:30pm - Sherston Village Hall, High Street, Sherston, Malmesbury, SN16 0LQ  

  • Saturday 23 March 11:00am – 15:00pm - Hullavington Village Hall, Hill Hayes Lane, Hullavington, Chippenham, SN14 6EB 

  • Monday 25 March 13:30pm - 17:30pm - Grittleton Village Hall, The Street, Grittleton, Chippenham, SN14 6AW 

  • Tuesday 09 April 15:30pm – 19:30pm - Goss Croft Hall, Startley Road, Upper Seagry, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 5HD 

  • Wednesday 10 April 15:30pm – 19:30pm - Corsham Town Council Hall, Town Hall, 65 High St, Corsham, SN13 0EZ 

  • Thursday 11 April 14:00pm – 18:00pm - Shaw Village Hall, The Beeches, Shaw, Melksham, SN12 8EW 

 

Online Community Webinars (Zoom) 

  • Wednesday 27 March 17:30pm – 19:00pm – click here to watch back, click here to view the presentation slides, click here to view further information in response to outstanding questions. 

  • Wednesday 17 April 17:30pm – 19:00pm – click here to watch back and click here to view the presentation slides, click here to view further information in response to outstanding questions.