Green Data Solar Farm

Creating a sustainable future

As well as being renewable and low carbon, solar power is one of the cheapest forms of energy for the UK. A fivefold increase in installed solar capacity is needed by 2050 according to the Government’s Energy Security Strategy (2022) and projects such as Green Data Solar Farm will help the UK accelerate the transition to Net Zero.

We have a long-term vision for Green Data Solar Farm which helps to address the UK’s energy security, provides a substantial biodiversity net gain and supports farmers, local agriculture and the local community.

Forming a strong relationship with the community that we serve is important to us and we are continually exploring ways we can better support local initiatives. We value your feedback and try to reflect it in the way the project is designed, like the inclusion of permissive pathways and the retention and creation of wildlife habitats. If you do have any thoughts on how we can improve our proposals, please do get in touch here.

Our commitments

Downing not only develop but also deliver, own and operate renewable assets across the UK. Every project is carefully evaluated to understand how it will naturally integrate with local habitats, plants, animals and people. DRD's intention is to develop a long-term plan that will deliver biodiversity enhancements above the mandatory 10% level.

Biodiversity

We are committed to an onsite biodiversity increase of at least 10% with ongoing maintenance and monitoring through the lifetime of the asset. The biodiversity initiatives we can implement include planting of wildflowers or natural grassland meadows to provide bees, butterflies and other pollinators with food sources. This will allow the farmland to regenerate through providing a fallow period from farming over the lifetime of the project.

Ecology

We will be working alongside vital stakeholders and the community to decide what is best for the area, taking into account native species and landscape character. We have engaged an ecologist at an early stage in the development and are seeking advice on matters contributing to effective and sustainable BNG, including avoiding and minismising ecological harm and creating a landscape rich in biodiversity and green infrastructure.

Community

Forming a strong relationship with the community that we serve is important to us and we are continually exploring ways we can better support local initiatives. We value your feedback and try to reflect it in the way the project is designed, like the inclusion of permissive pathways and the retention and creation of wildlife habitats.

Community benefits

DRD are committed to making a positive contribution in your local community through a tailored community benefit package. Any feedback you have on how DRD could partner with the community, local community groups or how providing funding in the community would be beneficial is well received.

As this project is still in the early development stages, we welcome feedback on how you'd like to see our community benefit taking shape. We are committed to working closely with the local communities to establish the most meaningful and impactful ways to contribute.