Ecology and Landscape

Fosse Green Energy will be designed to mitigate and reduce potential environmental impacts.

Where possible existing hedgerows, woodland, ditches, ponds and field margins will be retained within the layout of the solar PV array area. Small crossings could be required for new access tracks, security fencing and connection routes. Any breaks or crossings will be designed to use existing agricultural accesses between the fields and will be kept to a minimum.

Buffer areas will also be used to deliver a combination of hedgerow, grass and wildflower planting. We are looking for suggestions on the ways we should deliver these new areas for planting and deliver biodiversity net gain across the DCO site.

How will local wildlife and the ecology be affected?

We are at the very early stages of developing plans for Fosse Green Energy. The design and layout of the project is subject to refinement and change as we develop our plans and review feedback from the first stage of consultation.

Solar farms that have been monitored by ecologists demonstrate an increase over time in the local abundance and variety of plants, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

We will be taking steps to minimise any potential impacts on local habitats, making sure that Fosse Green Energy has as little impact on the natural environment as possible.

Under the Environment Act 2021, once in force, all new developments in England for which planning permission or development consent is needed will be required to demonstrate a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of at least 10 per cent.

‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ is a term used to describe a specific approach to development that leaves biodiversity in an overall better state than it was in before development was undertaken.

Register for updates

What are the government targets for solar energy?

The Government’s Net Zero Growth Plan published in March 2023 confirmed their commitment to 70GW of electricity generated from solar energy by 2035.

This level of deployment would equate to less than 0.5 per cent of land in the UK, providing areas for agriculture to maintain our food security, as well as solar energy production to power UK households and businesses.