The UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma has given the go-ahead for the up to 350MW Cleve Hill solar farm in Kent, south-east England.
Cleve Hill, which will also include battery storage, will be located on land approximately 2km northeast of Faversham and 5km west of Whitstable on the North Kent Coast.
It is being developed by a joint venture of Hive Energy and Wirsol Energy.
The developers said: “We are proud to lead the way to deliver the UK’s largest solar park.
“Cleve Hill offers a real solution to our urgent climate needs and showcases the potential for the UK to lead the green recovery.
“This is a project that will generate up to 350MW of clean renewable electricity to power over 91,000 homes, reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions by 68,000 tonnes a year.”
The consent also covers the storage portion and the connection infrastructure.
Solar Trade Association chief executive Chris Hewett said: “Today the government has shown that it recognises the vital contribution solar can make to Britain’s energy mix.
“This is a major milestone on the road towards a UK powered by clean, affordable renewables.
“Solar has a significant role to play in boosting the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
“With the right policies we can expect to see an 8GW pipeline of solar projects unlocked and rapidly deployed, swiftly creating a wealth of skilled jobs and setting us on the path towards a green recovery.”
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the JV on the 16 November 2018 and accepted for examination on 14 December that year.
Following an examination during which the applicant, statutory Consultees and interested Parties were given the opportunity to provide evidence to the examining authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State on 28 February 2020.
Planning Inspectorate chief executive Sarah Richards said: “The Planning Inspectorate is committed to giving local communities the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them.
“Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in a six-month long examination.
“The examining authority listened and gave full consideration to local views before making their recommendation.”
Arcus Consulting managed the application including EIA work, and said the project was the first solar scheme to get approval as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, and would be the largest plant of its kind in the UK.