Latest news with #NationallySignificantInfrastructureProject
ITV News
28-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Third runway at Heathrow could spark 'mother of all battles' say campaigners
Watch: Campaigners say they will fight a third runway scheme while supporters argue it will create thousands of jobs The Government and the backers of a new runway at Heathrow have been warned to expect the 'mother of all battles' as plans for a third runway and new terminal get a step closer. ITV News Meridian understands that two rival bids to build it will be submitted to ministers before midnight on Thursday - the deadline set by the Government. Campaigners against a third runway say it would mean a 50% rise in flights over the Thames Valley causing 'misery'. Andrew Melville's home lies at the edge of where a new perimeter fence would be built for the proposed runway, and says he feels 'forgotten about'. He said: "Let's make 5,500 homes uninhabitable, shift out 15,000 people and stick 260,000 extra polluting flights a year in UK air space. So how do you think we feel?" Backers of a third runway say the prize would be thousands of new jobs and the biggest economic boost the area has ever seen. Back in 2014 the cost of the scheme was £14 billion - now it is said to be between £40-£62 billion. It would mean the latest plans could be cut back to save money. Under the existing plans, there would be a full length runway near to the M4 and it would run over the M25 where a tunnel would be built, along with a new terminal. However cheaper options are expected, such as a shorter runway. As the expansion of Heathrow Airport is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), it means a Development Consent Order (DCO) must be applied for as the project is too large to be considered through the usual planning process of submission to the local council. The Government says it will back expansion if the airport can meet environmental targets. Heathrow will put forward a number of options and Arora, a property company with a billionaire owner from Surrey, will also submit rival plans by the end of the week.
Business Wire
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Landmark Cleve Hill Solar Park Reaches Commercial Operations
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners ('Quinbrook'), a specialist global investment manager focused exclusively on the infrastructure needed for the energy transition, today announced successful completion of construction and the start of commercial operations of the solar asset at the landmark Cleve Hill Solar Park ('Cleve Hill') in Kent, UK. Cleve Hill is now exporting at 100 percent of its 373 MW dc capacity, which is more than four times the size of the next largest operational UK solar project. In May, electricity exports from Cleve Hill during the commissioning phase peaked at a level equivalent to 0.7 percent of the UK's national power demand. Cleve Hill was the first solar and battery storage project to be consented as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project ('NSIP'). The record breaking solar project is supported by the largest solar + battery storage project financing ever undertaken in the UK. As previously announced, Quinbrook closed a GBP 218.5 million term loan and a GBP 20 million VAT facility with Lloyds and NatWest. Construction is also underway on a 150 MW co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) which on completion will make Cleve Hill the largest co-located solar plus storage project ever constructed in the UK power market. 'Cleve Hill sets a new benchmark for large-scale solar projects to help decarbonise the UK power system and demonstrates how investing in the infrastructure needed to transition the UK to clean energy can support local communities and create new jobs,' said Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Leader for Quinbrook. 'Reaching commercial operations is a major technical, construction and financial achievement for our teams, our partners and our investors. Cleve Hill was not an easy project to build and we overcame many challenges along the way. The UK's ongoing commitment to progress its energy transition and decarbonise the economy represents a strong conviction as a nation to a renewable energy future, one that is underpinned by a huge pipeline of large-scale infrastructure projects that will support growth, jobs and cheaper power for UK households.' Cleve Hill was the UK's first solar NSIP to be awarded a Contract for Difference ('CfD') by the UK Government-backed Low Carbon Contracts Company and secured the largest award for a UK solar project in Round 4 of the CfD auction scheme. Quinbrook also secured a long-term offtake agreement with Tesco PLC, the largest solar corporate PPA executed in the UK to date. 'Quinbrook is proud to further enhance our track record of successfully delivering milestone infrastructure projects that create such a meaningful and positive impact for the UK's energy transition. Projects like Cleve Hill set new scale benchmarks that should increase confidence that the UK's renewables targets can be achieved,' said Rory Quinlan, Quinbrook's Co-Founder and Managing Partner. Cleve Hill was granted development consent in May 2020 and commenced construction in early 2023. Quinbrook partnered with its development affiliate, Private Energy Partners, in the construction and commissioning of the project. Cleve Hill is expected to help reduce carbon emissions by more than 142,000 tonnes in the first year of operations. It is also expected to support over 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and generate more than GBP 114 million in local socio-economic benefits over its lifetime. About Quinbrook Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners ( is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on the infrastructure needed to drive the energy transition in the UK, US, and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested c. USD 6.9 billion of equity capital in 40 GW of energy infrastructure assets representing a total transaction value of USD 29.8 billion. Quinbrook has completed a diverse range of direct investments in both utility and distributed scale onshore wind and solar power, battery storage, reserve peaking capacity, biomass, fugitive methane recovery, hydro and flexible energy management solutions in the UK, US, and Australia. Quinbrook is currently developing and constructing some of the largest renewables and storage infrastructure projects in the UK, US, and Australia.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Plan for England's largest wind farm at Walshaw Moor 'scaled back'
Plans for the largest onshore wind farm in England have been scaled back by a Energy Park said it would apply for permission to build 41 turbines instead of the 65 originally planned on land near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.A consultation period has now begun and people have been invited to submit their views on the project over the next six weeks.A spokesperson for the company said it had also "removed the solar panel element" from the revised designs. The company first revealed the plans in 2023 and said the scheme would generate enough electricity to power more than 286,000 homes a environmental campaigners have said the development would disturb peat bogs on Walshaw Moor and release carbon into the firm's spokesperson said: "We're pleased to be able share our updated proposals for Walshaw Moor and look forward to hearing from local people about our ambitions."Our latest plan includes up to 41 turbines - a reduction from 65. We have also removed the solar panel element from the design."Calderdale Energy Park presents a key opportunity to support the government's target to achieve at least 95% of low carbon energy generation by 2030." 'Suitable sites' Large parts of Walshaw Moor are blanket bog and protected Rout, from campaign group Stop Calderdale Wind Farm, said: "Building wind farms on protected peatland, which is a natural carbon sink, is counterproductive - it will worsen the climate and nature crisis by releasing CO2."In addition to the turbines, this site would incorporate 22 miles (35 km) of access roads and a substation."She said the group feared the plans would lead to increased risk of flooding at Hebden Bridge and nearby towns."There are plenty of other suitable sites for wind farms, as identified in a report by the RSPB," she said."We are calling for government-led action to plan where this technology goes."The application to build the wind farm will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP, after the site was designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).It means that although Calderdale Council can be consulted, councillors will not have the final say on whether the project the largest wind farm in England is at Keadby in Lincolnshire, where there are 34 largest in the UK is at Whitelee near Glasgow with 215 turbines. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Big solar farm planned on Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire border
Plans for a huge solar farm covering the area of 2,800 football pitches have been submitted to the One Earth solar farm would cover 1,600 hectares (3,954 acres) around Dunham-on-Trent, near East Markham in Nottinghamshire, and stretch over the Lincolnshire facility would be able to generate up to 740MW of electricity - enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) development, largely covering farmland, would sit across the borders of West Lindsey, Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood districts. An application for the scheme has been submitted to the government by PS Renewables and Danish energy company Ø companies carried out a six-week consultation last year, which they said made residents more accepting of the designs, according to the LDRS. 'Urgent need' The project has been categorised as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) so it will be determined by Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy security and net zero, rather than the local LDRS said a decision on the scheme could be made by spring solar panels would use a grid connection at the decommissioned High Marnham power station in Nottinghamshire.A statement on the project's website said: "The UK has committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and fully decarbonising the power supply by 2035."This means that older forms of power generation, such as the coal-fired power station at High Marnham, are being taken out of use and need to be replaced with renewable energy sources."That means there is an urgent need for clean, affordable ways of generating energy. "One Earth Solar Farm could make a significant contribution to this goal by producing enough energy for more than 200,000 homes each year."
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for Suffolk solar farm the size of 850 football pitches
A new solar farm the size of 850 football pitches could "land in Suffolk" within the next five years after developers unveiled Suffolk wants to build a new energy farm and battery storage facility on 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land near Eye and an existing substation north of project aims to deliver around 250 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy and those behind it hoped to be able to connect it to the grid by to the plant's size, it will be classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning it will need to acquire planning approval from the Secretary of State. Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for devolution, local government reform and NSIPs, said: "Another NSIP is looking to land in Suffolk."I can fully understand how local communities are wearily bracing themselves for a time-consuming and uncertain road ahead - it does feel like a case of 'here we go again'."But I am expecting regular, productive engagement with EcoPower Suffolk – not just with the council, but with local residents and parishes."They talk about collaboration, and a commitment to community engagement and understanding local challenges and aspirations." 'Highest expectations' According to EcoPower Suffolk, the plant would have the potential to generate enough renewable electricity to power about 75,000 before submitting its final planning application, those behind the scheme will hold consultations, beginning in March, with contributions from Suffolk County Council."Suffolk County Council has previously been clear in setting out its views that solar farms in Suffolk should not take our best quality farmland out of food production and that, broadly speaking, solar installations should be rooftop before rural," added Mr Rout."Moreover, the council has the highest possible expectations that any solar developer fully rules out any possible links to forced labour in China or elsewhere in the world."EcoPower Suffolk, which was contacted by the BBC for comment, hoped to submit its application to the inspectorate by no later than summer 2026. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
