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ARTICLE · 03 NOVEMBER 2026

Infrastructure Planning Blog 71: Sunny Delight

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The Secretary of State has granted development consent for the 500MW Green Hill Solar Farm in Northamptonshire, marking a significant milestone in UK renewable energy infrastructure.

United KingdomEnvironment
Tom McNamara
Tom McNamara

This week's entry looks at the decision to grant development consent for Green Hill Solar Farm and other recent infrastructure planning news.

Green Hill Zone

The Secretary of State (SoS) has granted development consent for Green Hill Solar Farm. The Order is here. The project comprises 500MW solar generating capacity, a Battery Energy Storage System and grid connection infrastructure. The site is in Northamptonshire and would operate for up to 60 years. The application was examined by an Examining Authority (ExA) of three members. The ExA recommended that the Order be made (report here). The SoS agreed (decision letter here).

Here are the key takeaways:

  • Impacts on skylark: the Applicant proposed a significant mitigation strategy for skylark and other ground nesting birds that would be displaced by the solar panels. This included alternative habitat and management of fields for biodiversity enhancement. The Applicant also partially relied on skylark being displaced into suitable

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