Consent awarded for Clifton Marsh Solar Farm

The solar farm will have a capacity of up to 49.9 MW, which will provide enough electricity to power around 14,000 UK homes annually, and help avoid more than 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

Vattenfall has carefully designed the project to ensure that it delivers biodiversity benefits by creating habitats which will support a wide variety of wildlife. Grassland beneath the solar panels, combined with sheep grazing and improved drainage, will help reduce flood risk. In combination with habitat creation elsewhere on site, this will provide foraging and nesting opportunities for farmland bird species such as skylark, and waders such as snipe. Native broadleaf tree planting and hedgerow and ditch enhancements will help to link habitats together across the site for the benefit of many bird, mammal, amphibian and invertebrate species. 

Vattenfall is also exploring the creation of a community fund to deliver lasting benefits for local residents. Early conversations with the community have highlighted opportunities for the fund to support improvements to footpaths and invest in recreational projects, helping to enhance access and enjoyment of the local area.

Vattenfall will now consider the consent decision in detail before confirming the forward schedule. 

Emma Metcalfe, Vattenfall’s Project Manager for Clifton Marsh Solar Farm project said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver renewable energy while creating real benefits for nature and the local community. Solar power is cheap, low carbon, and reliable, and helps make Britain’s energy system more secure while stabilising costs for bill payers.

“We look forward to working closely with the community as the project progresses and continuing discussions on initiatives that bring lasting benefits for local people.”

Facts and figures about Clifton Marsh Solar Farm  

• Capacity: 49.9MW   
• Equivalent UK households powered: around 14,000 annually1  
• Predicted to offset around 20,000 tonnes of CO2 every year2  
• Further information about Clifton Marsh Solar Farm can be found here.     

1. Calculated according to Renewable UK ‘Homes powered equivalent’ methodology.  
2. Calculated according to Renewable UK ‘CO2 Reductions (per year) in Tonnes’ methodology.