UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has awarded planning permission to a 1350MW hat-trick of solar projects in England.
Development Consent Order permits were issued to PS Renewables and Tribus Clean Energy’s 500MW Sunnica, Windel Energy and Canadian Solar’s 350MW Mallard Pass, and Low Carbon’s 500MW Gate Burton.
Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett welcomed the decisions, saying he was “delighted” to see the new Secretary of State issue the approvals in his first week in office following the UK general election.
“This is just the kind of clear leadership that will increase investor confidence and show that Britain is serious about tackling the climate emergency with the urgency that is needed,” he said.
A decision on Sunnica had initially been due last September but the call was delayed several times by former Conservative energy secretary Claire Coutinho, who also pushed back decision deadlines for Mallard Pass.
Pinsent Masons partner Gareth Phillips said: “The speed at which the new government is acting in relation to existing DCO applications in the planning system is welcome and shows it is intent on clearing the backlog of infrastructure planning applications (Chancellor) Rachel Reeves has in her sights.”
Managing director of UK development at Low Carbon Mike Rutgers added: “Timely decision-making is fundamental to the success of clean energy infrastructure, and after months of political indecision on key projects this provides a clear signal to investors and the supply chain that the government is serious about giving priority to energy projects in the planning system.”
Pinsent Masons partner Richard Griffiths added: “These decisions send a clear signal of intent to the market that the UK is open to investment for major new renewables projects.
“The solar industry has been awaiting these decisions for quite a while. Now they have arrived, they will have a bearing on the projects that follow.”