Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Government expects that a low-cost, net zero consistent electricity system is likely to be composed predominantly of wind and solar. Wind and solar will be key building blocks of the future generation mix. The UK needs sustained growth in the capacity of these sectors in the next decade to ensure that we are on a pathway that allows us to meet net zero emissions in all demand scenarios.

Electricity generated from solar power has carbon emissions which are near to zero over the lifetime of a project. Solar projects are also quick to construct and operate statically, meaning that they will provide decarbonisation benefits at the earliest opportunity with minimal noise or air quality impacts during operation.

The UK already has over 13 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed and operational (National Statistics, 2022). This has been instrumental in helping the UK achieve a 70+% reduction in carbon emissions from electricity generation versus a 1990 baseline. Solar is already, and is set to continue to be, an incredibly important part of the electricity generation sector.

The Mallard Pass Solar Farm is proposed to be located on agricultural land either side of the East Coast Main Line near Essendine, partly situated in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, and partly in Rutland.

There are many factors that need to be considered when selecting appropriate locations for solar arrays, because not all sites are suitable for large-scale solar. The steps included in the site selection process consider (among other aspects) irradiation and topography; availability and location for connection to the electricity system; and local planning and environmental factors (including residential amenity, biodiversity, landscape and visual amenity, cultural heritage, agricultural land quality and land use, and flood risk). Other aspects include the availability and ownership of land, and access rights to the land through construction and operation.

Many of the above characteristics will not be a simple pass / fail for taking forward a site for solar development. Rather, sites that are deemed environmentally, technically, operationally, and commercially suitable are those that are likely to perform well against the majority of these important characteristics.

The role of the planning process is to achieve a balance whereby sufficient low-carbon electricity is generated to meet the UK’s future needs, all whilst minimising impacts on local communities. Having balanced the factors as outlined in the planning process, we are confident that the location selected for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm is appropriate.

Concern has been expressed about the potential for loss of agricultural land.

The draft National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3) confirms that Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) should not be the predominant test in site selection. Even so, the Mallard Pass team is undertaking an assessment of the quality of agricultural land included in the proposed development. This includes a site-specific ALC survey to identify and map out the soils across the project area. This will inform the next stages of design.

It is also worth noting that the Government has launched Landscape Recovery and Local Nature Recovery schemes which financially incentivise farmers to take land out of production for landscape or ecology improvement. Pilot projects are expected to be circa 500 - 5000 hectares (ha), potentially much larger than that required for even the largest solar projects currently contemplated. In that context, solar offers the potential for land to be used for clean power generation, environmental enhancement, soil quality improvement, and landscape and ecology improvements – without the need for government subsidy or grants.

ALC maps for the area, which are available to view by clicking here, indicate that the majority consists of Grade 3 land along with pockets of Grade 2 towards the southern extents of the site area. We are undertaking ground investigations and soil sampling to understand if the Grade 3 land is Grade 3a or Grade 3b. We are also in discussions with landowners and farmers to determine how they use the land and grow their yield. This will establish pesticide and fertilizer use on the land and allow us to develop a more comprehensive idea of baseline conditions and the impacts that may be caused by changing the land use from agricultural to electricity production.

At this stage in project development, it is anticipated that Mallard Pass Solar Farm will not require public subsidy. One of the benefits of solar compared to some other forms of renewable energy generation is that, provided the site selected is commercially viable and that costs are not greater than normal, it can be viably delivered by private investment.

Mallard Pass Solar Farm will benefit UK consumers as a whole by increasing the supply of low-cost, low carbon electricity on the national grid.  

Throughout the consultation process, we will continue to work with people in the area to ensure that our proposals represent an inclusive scheme, inviting ideas and feedback from local communities and stakeholders. We want to hear about local ideas for biodiversity and recreational improvements on and around the site, to accomplish our aim of delivering a biodiversity net gain, to enhance and connect green networks, and to link recreational routes.

Mallard Pass Solar Farm will play an important role in promoting the growth of the country’s solar energy capacity. Mallard Pass is committed to providing opportunities for UK economic growth throughout the planning, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the project. A project of this scale will provide the area with an opportunity to boost local employment, begin a transfer of sector-based knowledge and skills, increase local energy security and boost the local supply chain.  

Mallard Pass Solar Farm will be sensitively designed to work with existing features in the landscape. Our landscape strategy will deliver multiple benefits, including retaining Public Rights of Way (PRoWs), connecting habitats across the site, and providing new planting which stands to enhance local wildlife and / or recreational routes. 

The operational life of the Mallard Pass Solar Farm is not proposed to be specified in the Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

Although the installed solar infrastructure will have an initial lifespan – which could increase with improvements to technology – this is not considered to be a planning limitation and therefore we are not proposing at this stage to apply for a time limited consent. During the operation of Mallard Pass, onsite activities would include routine servicing, and maintenance and replacement of plant and equipment, as well as management of vegetation. These activities will support the continued operation of the project.

However, we do need to prepare for the decommissioning of Mallard Pass Solar Farm in the future, so that this can be appropriately planned and managed. For the purposes of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we are proposing to base the decommissioning assessment on a 40-year operational life span for the solar infrastructure. The assessment does not assume that the operational phase will be limited to 40 years as the solar infrastructure may continue to be operating successfully and safely beyond this period.

As such, although no time limit will be set for the implementation of a decommissioning plan, one will be required to be prepared. Indeed, the DCO application will include a framework decommissioning plan as well as a requirement to provide detailed plans for decommissioning and restoration at an appropriate time. The decommissioning plan will include details for safe removal of solar infrastructure from the site and a plan to restore the landscape to its previous state, usually agriculture.

At this stage, Mallard Pass Solar Farm would like any planting and mitigation areas put in place to be permanent, but ultimately this will be a question for the landowners and Mallard Pass will not have any ongoing control of these areas after the solar farm has been decommissioned.

The exact technology and type of solar array to be used for Mallard Pass Solar Farm has yet to be decided. At this time, the exact layout of the panels has also yet to be designed, as this will partly depend on which photovoltaic (PV) technology will be chosen.

We are considering multiple layout options, including fixed south-facing panels or tracker technologies which follow the sun, and may retain the option to choose between these layouts within our Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

We are considering retaining this layout flexibility in order to submit an application that will allow Mallard Pass to select that which is most effective at the time of detailed design. As solar technologies are developing rapidly, this guarantees that the technology chosen at the time of construction is that which best meets project objectives and will deliver the best possible results for the environment.

Energy storage technology will be an important part of the solution to help the grid shift from fossils fuels to renewable energy, and battery storage technology forms an important part of the proposals for Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Battery storage technology is proposed to be used at Mallard Pass to support the utilisation of the renewable energy it will generate by storing energy when it is generated, and exporting it to the grid when it is most needed; a management process known as “load shifting”. By acting to smooth the supply of renewable energy to the national grid, battery storage will play a key role in enabling an integrated low carbon energy supply.

The exact type of battery storage to be used for Mallard Pass has yet to be decided. However, potential impacts on the health and safety of the local community will be identified and appropriately mitigated against through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The results of this process will be reported within the Environmental Statement (ES), which is submitted in support of the Development Consent Order (DCO) and duly considered by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) when considering whether or not our application will be accepted for examination.

Battery safety measures form a part of our plans. An outline Battery Safety Management Plan (oBSMP) will be prepared and submitted with the DCO, and this will ensure that safety concerns around the battery energy storage system element of our proposals are appropriately addressed.

Additionally, as part of our pre-application process, we will engage with statutory organisations and stakeholders, including the Health and Security Executive (HSE), the NHS Commissioning Board and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, who will be provided the opportunity to comment and shape proposals for Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Our initial concept plan for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm – which we consulted on at Stage One – proposed a total site area of 880 hectares (ha), (equivalent to 2,175 acres), and this included space for areas of both potential solar development as well as environmental and landscape enhancements.

Within the Stage One concept plan, approximately 570 ha was identified as fields that may be potentially suitable for panels, with the remainder (approx. 315 ha) not containing any panels or infrastructure.

In areas marked for potential solar development, panels will be appropriately spaced to allow for biodiversity, utility corridors and maintenance. For more information, please read our FAQ on panel coverage below.

In areas marked for mitigation and enhancements, there will be no solar panels or associated material infrastructure. These spaces will be used to deliver biodiversity improvements and landscape enhancements: for example, new or enhanced hedgerows and planting. For more information, please read our FAQ on mitigation and enhancement areas below.

These figures will evolve as we move forward in the planning and development process and improve our understanding of the local context. In our Stage One concept plan, we showed the extent of the area we are looking at in order to deliver to the available grid connection capacity, taking into account the area of land required for solar panels, buffers and offsets for Public Rights of Way (PRoWs), field boundaries, flood risk, and offsets from people’s homes. Other key factors that can heavily impact the final size and location of a project are solar panel and infrastructure technology type, layout and configuration, as well as local topography. More detailed information relating to a proposed design and layout will be available during our statutory Stage Two consultation, in spring 2022.

No – the nature of solar development is typically such that a large proportion of the site is free of panels, due to row alignment in relation to the irregular shape of the site boundary as well as pre-existing factors, such as ditches and / or Public Rights of Way (PRoWs). In addition to this, large areas of the site are not proposed for panels at all, but instead would be used for biodiversity or retained in their existing use to protect residential amenity. The initial concept plan for Mallard Pass Solar Farm presented at Stage One showed approximately 38% not containing panels or infrastructure.

Further, the visual impact of the project is duly considered throughout the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning process, specifically through the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA). The undulating character of the site area, comprised of small, wooded stands, woodlands and roadside hedges would help naturally screen the project to a substantial extent, and guarantee that there would be no single ground-level viewpoint from which the entire development would be visible. This could only be possible via an aerial, or bird’s eye view, of Mallard Pass.

Although Mallard Pass Solar Farm is still in its early stages of design development, our concept plan and proposals will be shaped by our desire to sensitively respond to existing features in the landscape, such as hedgerows, trees, watercourses, PRoWs and residential properties. We aim to provide buffers and offsets to these features and design a project that will respond to the local context, respect public amenity and have a minimised visual impact. All of these factors will influence where solar panels will be located within the proposed area.

Our initial concept plan for Mallard Pass Solar Farm showed that approximately 38% of the site will be used for mitigation and enhancement purposes. These are spaces that will not include any solar panels or associated infrastructure and could be used to deliver biodiversity improvements and landscape and environmental enhancements; for example, new or enhanced hedgerows and planting. Other examples include the retention of land in agricultural use, or areas that we are not developing on to protect residential or visual amenity. Specific mitigation and enhancement measures have yet to be formally decided and will be made on a site-specific basis.

Mitigation and enhancement measures will be decided following consultation with local community members, local authorities, and landowners. Through engagement with these groups, we will be able to further identify specific ways that our proposals can respond sensitively to the local context of the area and implement measures best suited to the site.

As part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, we must also consult with statutory consultees such as the Forestry Commission and Natural England, who will help inform which measures are most appropriate and beneficial for the site. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process as a whole will also significantly inform which measures we propose, helping us identify potential impacts and ways to mitigate these appropriately.

Hedgerows are a good example of the type of enhancements currently under consideration. Many existing hedgerows across the site area do not have particularly wide margins along their sides, or have been damaged and / or grubbed up over the years. We could therefore increase the height of these existing hedgerows, identify and plant up any gaps that might exist, as well as introduce additional planting where necessary to serve as screening. We might also examine the existing hedgerow margins and consider appropriate planting where necessary, again doing so on a site-specific basis. Some areas may be better suited for wildflower planting for example, whereas others – such as drainage ditches — may be better suited for the introduction of new species to improve the overall biodiversity value of our proposals.

One of our key aims in undertaking these mitigation and enhancement measures is to find ways to improve the environment through biodiversity enhancements and land management measures specifically targeted to benefit particular species of flora and fauna. For example, we may enhance green infrastructure connectivity by introducing new wildflower planting, or by creating new and strengthening existing links between blocks of woodland. These types of measures will help us achieve our aim of delivering a biodiversity net gain across the site.

We are also considering enhancements below the panels themselves, in the areas marked for potential solar development. The potential for dual use of the land for both electricity development and agriculture will be explored during the development of our proposals and through dialogue with landowners – livestock grazing may potentially form part of a land management plan. For example, some UK solar farms use the land below the panels to graze sheep, or for beekeeping.

We are currently undertaking the process of refining the design and layout for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm proposals. The final output capacity of Mallard Pass will depend upon the final design selected for the development. As we work to further refine our plans, we will update our estimates of how much electricity we expect Mallard Pass Solar Farm to generate and continue to place this estimate within the context of local and national consumption.

The initial concept plan for Mallard Pass that we presented during Stage One of consultation indicates that the project is expected to have an installed generation capacity of approximately 350 megawatts (MW). This calculation is based on detailed technical analysis of the site area, which accounts for natural features, shadow effects and historical sunlight levels. Taking these factors into consideration, we estimate that our current proposals could generate approximately 350,000 megawatt hours (MWh) per year. This figure also accounts for hours in the year (8760) and a solar load factor, which is an efficiency indicator for electricity generation that accounts for factors such as weather conditions, and average hours of sunlight.

To help contextualise the 350 MW figure indicating the potential power output from the site, we relate it to potential homes powered. The average UK household consumes approximately 3.76 MWh per year. Therefore, Mallard Pass has the ability to generate the same amount of power each year as would be consumed by approximately 92,000 ‘average’ UK households, in a full 12-month period. For more information, please read our FAQ that breaks down the calculations in further detail below.

Please find a breakdown of the calculations used to determine the annual production and estimated homes powered for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Annual production calculation

• The initial concept plan for Mallard Pass is expected to have an installed generation capacity of approximately 350 megawatts (MW).

• This calculation is based on detailed technical analysis of the site area, including natural features, shadow effects, and historical sunlight levels.

• Taking these factors into consideration, we estimate that our current proposals could generate approximately 350,000 megawatt hours (MWh) per year.

• This figure also accounts for the hours in the year and a solar load factor, which is an efficiency indicator for electricity generation that takes into account factors such as weather conditions, and average hours of sunlight.

• The expected annual production can be calculated as follows:

  • 350,000 kW (installed capacity (350 MW * 1,000)) * 8,760 (number of hours in a year) * 0.114 (solar load factor estimated based on East Midlands history plus uplift for newer, more efficient solar panels) = 349,524,000 kWh.

Homes powered calculation

• Based on the annual electricity production figure of 349,542,000 kWh calculated above, we estimate that Mallard Pass Solar Farm has the potential to generate the same amount of power each year as would be consumed by approximately 92,000 ‘average’ UK households, in a full 12-month period.

• The estimated homes powered can be calculated as follows:

  • 349,524,000 kWh (annual production (kWh)) / 3,760 kWh (average household consumption) = 92,958.51 ≈ 92,000 homes powered.

• This is roughly equivalent to the domestic consumption of electricity in Rutland and South Kesteven combined.

The exact type of technology for Mallard Pass Solar Farm has yet to be determined; however, most solar equipment materials are recyclable and reusable, such as aluminium and steel.

Constructing Mallard Pass will involve sourcing materials, manufacturing components, transporting them to the site and installing them; all of which will create carbon emissions. Our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will also consider the carbon emissions associated with the construction and operation of Mallard Pass Solar Farm. Whilst varying from project to project, it is estimated that solar developments generally pay back their construction emissions in 2 - 3 years. For projects located in the northern UK, this is estimated to take around 6 years. For more details, please click here to be redirected to the Renewable Energy Hub UK.

We recognise that many respondents to our Stage One consultation expressed concerns about fencing. We are considering multiple options for how the site will be kept secure and will make proposals on this topic during our Stage Two consultation. No decisions regarding the type and / or location of fencing have yet been made. When these decisions will be made, this will be done on a site-specific basis.

Certain areas may require stock fencing, a type of fence that is primarily used in agricultural settings and that will therefore easily integrate into the pre-existing landscape. Wooden post and wire mesh perimeter fencing is being considered for areas containing solar panels, and these would include in-built small mammal gates at suitable points. In other areas, hedgerow arrangement may be sufficient to secure the development, and will not require the installation of any fencing. There will be some areas with more sensitive pieces of equipment, which will require a more secure environment than others. This could entail palisade fencing for example, which may be needed around the substation compound.

The visual and ecological impacts of this are duly considered throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, measured against the core purpose of securing assets for energy generation and ensuring the safety of local residents and biodiversity.

The installation of CCTV is the most common way to secure solar developments. Motion sensor-activated CCTV cameras are typically mounted on wooded posts and would be installed around the solar panel perimeter fencing. These would not overlook any public or private areas of land, being orientated towards the panels and equipment for Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Through the construction of Mallard Pass Solar Farm, we intend to deliver a biodiversity net gain across the site. Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to “the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms,” and includes all living species (humans, animals, plants) (United Nations Environment Programme). ‘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.

Solar developments are quite often able to deliver significant biodiversity net gains, especially in projects of scale where substantial landscape and environmental improvements can be made. This can be done by changing an area away from semi-intensive farming, removing regimes of herbicides and pesticides, and introducing simple flower mixes which benefit a range of wildlife. Indeed, solar farms allow land to rest without regular ploughing, fertilizing, and spraying with pesticides and herbicides.

Solar farms can also be a great benefit to local wildlife. For example, creating buffering with hedgerows and ditches could create a much larger ecological network in the area. Improving ecological corridors, wildflower planting, and enhancing ecological connectivity are also ways that local biodiversity can be improved. We will be consulting with county ecologists on the scope of ecological surveys to be undertaken, as well as potential impacts on habitats and species to be considered as part of the assessment process.

The Environment Act 2021 has now received royal assent and it includes provisions which relate to the delivery of biodiversity net gain for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Those provisions are not yet in force, and might not be until two years’ time, but it is expected when they do come into force that a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain will need to be delivered by NSIPs.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is a crucial part of achieving a biodiversity net gain. It includes a number of environmental and species surveys and assessments that will help us identify all local species and impacts that our proposals may have on them. The findings of these studies will be consulted on with statutory environmental authorities and interest groups and reported in the final Environmental Statement (ES), which is submitted as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

Engagement with Natural England and other key statutory stakeholders, as well as community feedback, will help us further refine ways to provide a positive contribution to local biodiversity through the delivery of Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Our first principle and starting point in terms of siting the Mallard Pass Solar Farm in this location is to retain all existing field boundaries, hedgerows, trees and woodland. We are taking these existing features and local context into account in our concept plan, applying a series of setbacks and looking at what land remains to determine our project’s capacity.

There could be some instances where our proposals for Mallard Pass may impact these features; for example, we may need to find ways to connect different agricultural fields, or need to remove a small boundary section to put cables in. However, we will do our best to avoid this and will utilise existing gaps wherever it is possible. Further, if such a case does arise, we will examine impacts on a site-specific basis and apply mitigation and enhancement measures accordingly.

Our intention is to retain all existing landscape features and enhance these where appropriate, helping to minimise the overall impact of our project and break up the visual appearance of the development. This is another aim that is accomplished by retaining existing features, such as the railway line or woodland – this helps us ensure that one would not be able to see the whole development from any single vantage point.

As a major infrastructure project, we recognise the potential impact on wildlife. We appreciate the concerns of Stage One respondents and residents regarding native species, such as birds, deer, and badgers.

Our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) includes a chapter on ecology and wildlife, and we have already undertaken a number of ecological surveys as part of this process. The results of the ecological surveys carried out to date can be found in the appendices of the EIA Scoping Report, available to view on the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) website. Findings of ongoing and further EIA studies will be shared in our Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and presented as part of our Stage Two consultation. These results will also be included in the Environmental Statement (ES) that is submitted to PINS as part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

We are confident that Mallard Pass Solar Farm has the potential to deliver significant biodiversity improvements and the retention of existing woodlands, trees, hedgerows, ditches, and other important areas of habitats that support protected species. These existing areas will be retained so far as is feasible, and we will also be proposing new areas for biodiversity enhancements. We intend to deliver a biodiversity net gain across the site.

Additionally, we will be applying appropriate mitigation for these features where appropriate. This may include offsets and buffers that will allow for the protection and continued use of these areas by protected species during the construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the project.

We have noted the concerns expressed regarding the potential impacts that construction traffic may have on local residents and wildlife. The impacts of Mallard Pass Solar Farm on local traffic and transport will be assessed as part of our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We will be consulting with Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to establish a construction traffic routing strategy that will be supported by an outline Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP), which will be submitted as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO).

This CTMP will be informed by baseline traffic information, professional experience, and data from other projects. It will also provide an expected number of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) movements to be associated with the offshore works for the project.

We have already also begun traffic survey data to assess the impact of our proposals and use these studies to ensure the least amount of traffic disruption is caused by Mallard Pass. The impact is largest during construction and is expected to be negligible during operation. More detailed information regarding traffic and transport will be available during our Stage Two consultation.

Site access is an important consideration for us as we refine proposals for Mallard Pass Solar Farm. The Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) ensures that we develop an appropriate access strategy that will seek to avoid and minimise impacts on the highway network. This will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) as part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

As part of our Stage One consultation, we consulted the local highways authority, Lincolnshire County Council, and National Highways to seek their feedback on our proposals. These and other statutory stakeholders will help inform the scope of further assessment work and analysis that we need to ensure that the transport implications from the project are properly considered, and that suitable mitigation, where appropriate, are identified.

In addition to initial site visits, we have also undertaken an assessment of the suitability of existing access points, taking into consideration numerous factors such as: weight restrictions; visibility splays; size of access’ proximity to existing junctions; and mature vegetation and utilities.

The existing access options are currently agricultural access points that can accommodate large, heavy agricultural machinery. There are also weight restrictions in place on a few of the smaller local roads, that allow local access. This early-stage information, along with further survey work, will help us prepare temporary and permanent access options for the construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of Mallard Pass Solar Farm; all with a view that seeks to minimise and mitigate the impacts of construction traffic on local communities.

Our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will consider impacts to public health, and, where necessary, any impacts will be mitigated against in our Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The preliminary impacts and suggested mitigation measures related to public health will be presented in our Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) during our Stage Two consultation.

As part of the EIA process, we must undertake extensive surveys that investigate the potential health impacts of our proposals and are required to consult with a range of statutory stakeholders; including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the National Health Service (NHS) Commissioning Board (NHS England), the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group, and Public Health England. The results of the EIA will be reported within the Environmental Statement (ES) and submitted in support of the DCO application.

No – as with all electrical appliances and equipment, the required infrastructure for Mallard Pass Solar Farm will generate electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, the electric field will be shielded in order to remain significantly below guideline EMF levels for public health protection. The view of health protection bodies, based on a wide-ranging health evidence, is that low-frequency EMF is not a cause of health risks and that the guideline exposure standards in place are satisfactory.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, we must undertake extensive surveys that investigate the potential health impacts of our proposals and are required to consult with a range of statutory stakeholders; including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the National Health Service (NHS) Commissioning Board (NHS England), the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group, and Public Health England. The results of the EIA are reported within the Environmental Statement (ES) and submitted in support of the planning application.

We recognise the significant benefits that walking in nature can have on one’s mental and physical wellbeing, and the additional impact that COVID-19 has had on the ability to access and enjoy common green spaces.

Ensuring continued accessibility to local amenities, Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) and footpaths is a key priority for our proposals, as we seek to retain these pre-existing aspects. Our proposals also include potential enhancements to current routes, as we seek to improve connectivity in the area. The surrounding nature, planting, wildlife, and broader ecology will also be retained, and our proposals also include potential enhancements to these, as well as to local amenity more generally. By delivering a biodiversity net gain, our proposals would also ensure that local ecosystems thrive further, in an overall better state than before. The Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) that we must undertake as part of our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will also ensure that the visual impact of our proposals is fully understood and appropriately mitigated, ensuring the local community’s ability to walk in the area and enjoy its natural amenities.

If you have specific suggestions for potential enhancements that could improve local amenity and connectivity, please do not hesitate to reach out using the dedicated communications lines for the project, listed at the bottom of this webpage or at MallardPassSolar.co.uk/Contact.