Environmentally-Led Design

Light Valley Solar has been developed in response to its surroundings to coexist harmoniously with the local environment. Putting nature, landscape and local communities first is central in how the project will be delivered.

Solar farms can be havens for biodiversity and offer opportunities to achieve significant biodiversity net gain. We aim to go above and beyond the minimum statutory biodiversity net gain requirements, not only mitigating any anticipated nature loss, but also strengthening natural habitats.

To design Light Valley Solar in a way that enhances local wildlife by delivering a net gain in biodiversity, specific examples of initiatives we have included as part of our proposals include:

  • Protection of existing ecological features such as woodland, hedgerows and ponds.

  • Maintaining existing wildlife corridors.

  • A Bird Mitigation Area located at Site 1.

  • Ecological enhancement and wildflower planting.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Our BNG Report sets out that Light Valley Solar is likely to deliver a biodiversity gain of at least 70% BNG, including 78.58% for habitats, 73% for hedgerows and 10.42% for watercourses, based on current design proposals.

Light Valley Solar is classified as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, which means we are required to assess the potential significant environmental impacts of the Project.  

EIA is an iterative process in which the assessment of environmental impacts is carried out in parallel with the development design process. We have used EIA as a tool to identify the potential positive and negative effects the Project might have on the environment.   

The purpose of the EIA process is to make sure where we identify any significant effects, we put in place measures to reduce any negative impact, while also seeking to enhance positive effects. The results of the EIA are set out in the Environmental Statement (ES) which is included in our final DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). 

We have conducted extensive environmental surveys and consulted with a range of stakeholders to identify the potential impact of our proposed development on a number of topics including: 

  • Ecology and biodiversity

  • Landscape and visual

  • Cultural heritage

  • Transport and access

  • Soils and agriculture

  • Hydrology flood risk and drainage

  • Socio-economics, tourism and recreation

  • Noise and vibration

  • Climate change

  • Air quality

  • Human health

  • Glint and glare

For each of these topics we have assessed the impact of the project on them throughout its lifecycle from construction through to operation and decommissioning.

The results of the EIA have been set out in the Environmental Statement (ES) which is included in our final DCO application.

The EIA process for major infrastructure projects is broken down into the three stages as follows:

  • On 8 November 2024, we submitted an EIA Scoping Report to PINS. We set out the proposed scope of the EIA process for the Project, which is how we proposed to identify and evaluate the likely significant effects of our Proposed Development in order to then determine measures to reduce or manage those effects. PINS then produced a Scoping Opinion on 19 December 2024, which has been considered when producing the PEIR. 

  • The PEIR formed part of the consultation materials for our second phase of consultation so technical stakeholders, local communities, individuals and interested parties could develop an informed view of these potential impacts and provide us with their feedback.  

    The PEIR has been superseded by the ES (see Stage 3 for further information); however, the full PEIR can still be viewed here.  

  • We’ve conducted extensive environmental assessments as part of the development of our proposals. The findings from the assessments are set out in the Environmental Statement (ES).

    The ES builds on the content of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) that was presented during the statutory consultation, incorporating the feedback received and the outcomes of our assessments. Importantly, the ES describes any changes to the project since statutory and targeted consultation were completed and the measures we are proposing to reduce and improve the effects that the project may have on the environment. 

    Readers concerned with specific issues (for example, how the development might affect local wildlife, traffic or views) can find the relevant chapter and see both the assessment and the supporting data. Each topic of the ES also includes information regarding cumulative effects resulting from other approved or reasonably foreseeable developments. 

    A Non-Technical Summary (NTS) of the ES has been produced and can be found here.