UK gives go-ahead for 470MW solar double

The UK government has granted planning permission for two solar projects in northern England totalling 470MW.

Energy department DESNZ has today (2 July) approved separate Development Consent Order (DCO) applications for RWE’s 320MW Peartree Hill in the East Riding of Yorkshire as well as ib vogt and Firma Energy’s 150MW Dean Moor in Cumbria.

Peartree Hill is cleared for construction on land between Tickton, Riston, Wawne, Weel, and Woodmansey, located about 12 miles north of Hull.

It will connect to the grid at the Creyke Beck substation. A battery energy storage system is also in line for installation.

A DCO application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in February 2025, with a decision recommendation sent to DESNZ in April 2026.

DESNZ has meanwhile also given the green light for Dean Moor to be built between Gilgarran and Branthwaite in Cumbria.

It follows a permit application in March 2025 and the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation to the government in April this year.

Ib vogt’s head of UK and Nordics Daniel Kiremidjian said: “This is a significant milestone for ib vogt in the UK and reflects the hard work of our team and partners, as well as the constructive engagement with local communities and stakeholders throughout the process.”

Commenting on both DCO approvals, UK energy minister Michael Shanks said: “We are driving further and faster for clean homegrown power that we control to protect the British people and bring down bills for good.

“It is crucial we learn the lessons of the conflict in the Middle East – solar is one of the cheapest forms of power available and is how we get off the rollercoaster of international fossil fuel markets and secure our own energy independence.”

More information:https://www.renews.biz/solar/rwe-wins-permit-for-320mw-peartree-hill/