Lime Down Solar Park - an industrial-scale complex

The Project

The proposed Lime Down Solar Park stretches over nearly 3 square miles of productive farmland and natural open fields. Over 2,000 acres in beautiful and biodiverse countryside in North Wiltshire: that’s the equivalent of 1,250 football pitches. The solar park would be one of the largest in the country. Wiltshire already has 54 solar farms covering 3000 acres either under construction or in operation, which makes the county one of the largest clusters of solar farms anywhere in the world.

Lime Down Solar Project comprises inverters, transformers, a battery energy storage system, an online substation, site access, cable connections, security fencing and CCTV monitoring equipment, construction compound and any required landscaping. The Scheme will comprise a 500MW export connection, 250MW import connection and 1,000MWh battery.

We believe in meeting our net-zero targets and renewables have a huge part to play. We are pro-solar but solar in the appropriate place on former industrial sites or on rooftops, not on productive farmland.

SOLAR ON ROOFTOPS, NOT FIELDS.

This is what Lime Down say ...

Lime Down Solar Farm Proposal

Overview

The Lime Down Solar Power Station is a proposed utility-scale solar power and battery energy storage project in North Wiltshire, UK. The developer is Island Green Power (IGP) with significant investment from Macquarie Asset Management. Lime Down involves the installation of over 1 million photovoltaic panels measuring 9ft in height (2.75m), substations, battery storage systems, and fencing 10ft high (3m).

Location & Size

Spanning over 2,000 acres (1,250 football fields), the total land footprint is larger than London Gatwick Airport and stretches across North Wiltshire, wrapping along the ancient Roman Fosse Way and between historic Cotswold villages including Alderton, Luckington, Sherston, Norton, Hullavington, Foxley, Corston, Rodbourne, and Upper Seagry. New underground cabling is to be laid over 20 miles to reach the grid at Melksham.

Output

The developer claims 500MW of capacity, representing peak output. However, on average, solar delivers maximum power for 2.6 hours a day in the UK and it produces more power during summer than winter. If measured over the year, the average annual output of solar is about 10% of peak capacity. The average annual output at Lime Down will be just 50MW.

Alternatives

Solar power is an important part of the UK’s future energy mix. It is best used on buildings and brown field with minimal range of transmission. All suitable roof space and car parks in the UK could generate 117 GW of electricity, exceeding the government’s total solar target of 70 GW by of 2050. There is no need to use productive agricultural land for solar power.

Planning Process

The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project Planning Process

Due to the size of the Lime Down scheme it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The planning is decided through the National Infrastructure Planning process and is ultimately approved by the relevant Secretary of State.

Local councils and other bodies do not make the final decision on whether the scheme gets approved. However, the opinion of the local authorities does carry weight and they would also be responsible for enforcement of the Development Consent Order if the scheme were to be approved. The Planning Inspectorate conducts a multi-stage examination of the scheme. They then prepare a report, including a recommendation on whether the scheme should be approved. The report is then sent to the relevant Secretary of State who will make the final decision. The whole process takes about 12 months.

How to Stay Informed

If you would like to be kept up to date on the progress of the examination process you can register your email address on the Planning Inspectorate Site. This will allow you receive updates via e-mail. To register your e-mail address please click on the image on the right. This will take you to the relevant page on the Planning Inspectorate website.

The Planning Inspectorate helpline is 0303 444 5000

Additionally, if you register with Stop Lime Down, we will keep you updated about any significant events and decisions. .

The Planning Process

The Planning Act 2008 (PA2008) process was introduced to streamline the decision-making process for major infrastructure projects, making it fairer and faster for communities and applicants alike.

The six stages in the process are:

Pre-Application

Lime Down Solar project is at the pre-application stage.

The plans will be announced in Q1 2025. The public will then have 6 weeks to respond to these.

The application to the Planning Inspectorate is expected to be submitted Q4 2025.

Before submitting an application, potential applicants have a statutory duty to carry out consultation on their proposals. The length of time taken to prepare and consult on a project will vary depending upon its scale and complexity.

Responding to an applicant’s Pre-application consultation is the best time to influence a project, whether you agree with it, disagree with it, or believe it could be improved.

The Planning Inspectorate cannot consider representations about the merits of a proposed application at the Pre-application stage of the process.

Acceptance

The Acceptance stage begins when an applicant submits an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate. There follows a period of up to 28 days (excluding the date of receipt of the application) for the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to decide whether or not the application meets the standards required to be accepted for examination.

Pre-Examination

At this stage, the public will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation. A Relevant Representation is a summary of a person’s views on an application, made in writing. An Examining Authority is also appointed at the Pre-examination stage, and all Interested Parties will be invited to attend a Preliminary Meeting, run and chaired by the Examining Authority. Although there is no statutory timescale for this stage of the process, it usually takes approximately three months from the Applicant’s formal notification and publicity of an accepted application.

Examination

The Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out the examination. During this stage Interested Parties who have registered by making a Relevant Representation are invited to provide more details of their views in writing. Careful consideration is given by the Examining Authority to all the important and relevant matters including the representations of all Interested Parties, any supporting evidence submitted and answers provided to the Examining Authority’s questions set out in writing or posed at hearings.

Recommendation & Decision

The Planning Inspectorate must prepare a report on the application to the relevant Secretary of State, including a recommendation, within three months of the close of the six month Examination stage. The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.

Post Decision

Once a decision has been issued by the relevant Secretary of State, there is a six week period in which the decision may be challenged in the High Court. This process of legal challenge is known as Judicial Review.

Video

Preliminary Meetings

Preliminary meetings mark the start of the examination in the planning application for a nationally significant infrastructure project. This short film explains what happens at the meeting and how interested parties can be involved at the preliminary meeting.

How to take part at an Issue Specific Hearing

Issue specific hearings are held to discuss matters during the examination of a nationally significant infrastructure project. This short film explains what to expect at the event and how interested parties can take part.

Local Authorities & NSIPs

This video provides guidance to local authorities in the key interactions required for an application for a nationally significant infrastructure project

Are you able to help us Fund the campaign?

To stand the best chance of defeating Island Green Power / Macquarie’s plans for Lime Down Solar industrial park, we will require the expertise of specialists to identify and submit the relevant legal and material planning considerations during the Examination phase with the Planning Inspectorate.

All those working on the committee are providing their time and expertise pro bono. After budgeting and mapping out the next phases of due process - it is clear we need to raise significant funds to ensure this process happens effectively.

Donating is simple

These are the bank details for any donations:

Account name: SLD WILTSHIRE

Sort code: 56-00-03

Account number: 27630706

If you would like a receipt for your donation, please email finances@stoplimedown.com and advise the donation reference and amount so we can send you a receipt.

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