16 Aug Delivering support to the Solar Industry: Mallard Pass Solar Farm granted consent
Over the last three years BSG Ecology have supported LDA Design, Windel Energy and Recurrent Energy in their application to bring forward a large area of land on the Lincolnshire/Rutland border for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm.
BSG Ecology designed the baseline surveys, carried out the subsequent assessment and provided industry leading advice on the design of on-site habitat enhancement and creation as well as designing avoidance and mitigation measures. This required liaison with numerous local stakeholders.
The development will deliver a range of ecological benefits, including over eight kilometres of permissive paths, 21km of new tree and hedgerow planting, over 150ha of new grassland and woodland planting. This has ensured that the proposals will result in a 72% net biodiversity gain for habitats and a 40 % net biodiversity gain for hedgerows. A District Level Licence has also been secured to deliver mitigation for great crested newts.
As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the proposal was applied for through the Planning Inspectorate and has been granted consent by the Energy Secretary Ed Milliband. Once constructed it will become one of the largest solar farms in the UK, generating in the region of 350 MW of renewable energy, enough to power the equivalent of 92,000 households.
BSG Ecology has extensive experience of providing ecological support on solar farms of varying size and complexity. You can read about some of our most recent solar projects here: Energy Projects