Project Overview

The West Burton Solar Project is a proposed 480 MW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) farm. It has a Battery Energy Storage Capacity of approximately 157 MW & an import grid capacity of 20 MW. Developed by Island Green Power (IGP), the facility is located across three sites in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in England.

It received its Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, on 24 January 2025. The project is now in the post-consent, pre-construction phase, with site surveys underway. 

The project takes its name from its grid connection point: the 400kV National Grid substation at the former West Burton A coal-fired power station, which ceased generation in 2022. 

The facility spans across three sites, namely:

• West Burton 1 (90 hectares)

• West Burton 2 (328 hectares)

• West Burton 3 (370 hectares)

These are clustered within an approximately 8.5 km stretch of countryside east of the River Trent, south of the A1500, and north of Saxilby. All sites connect underground to the West Burton 400kV substation in the Bassetlaw District. 

A fourth site (West Burton 4, 247 ha in Bassetlaw) was removed from the project during the planning examination, reducing the overall footprint to 788 hectares, compared to the originally proposed 1,035 hectares.

Together, West Burton and Cottam Solar Farm represent two of the largest NSIP solar consents in England and, along with Gate Burton Energy Park (EDF, 500 MW) and Tillbridge Solar, form a dense cluster of consented solar capacity along the Trent Valley's former coal power station grid corridor. 

West Burton Solar Project Location

The West Burton Solar Project (also called West Burton Solar Farm) is a large-scale solar PV farm with battery storage in the East Midlands, England, UK. The sites (West Burton 1–3) are located south of Sturton-by-Stow and southeast of Marton in Lincolnshire. It crosses the county border into Nottinghamshire. The sites are approximately 7.4 km south and up to 14.6 km southeast of Gainsborough.

West Burton Solar Project Map

Site Breakdown - Three Solar Arrays

Technical Specifications

Project Background

The West Burton Solar Project is identified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) due to the amount of renewable electricity it would generate. It means that it would require a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the 2008 Planning Act. 

The West Burton Solar Project was conceived along with the Cottam Solar Project as Island Green Power's second major NSIP solar project in the East Midlands Trent Valley. Both projects exploit the same strategic advantage: the 400kV National Grid substations that served the Trent Valley's fleet of large coal-fired power stations. 

Island Green Power began feasibility studies and community consultation for West Burton in 2021–2022, running in parallel with the Cottam development. IGP submitted the DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate in March 2023. 

The Planning Inspectorate accepted the application on 18 April 2023. A preliminary meeting was scheduled for 7 September 2023, but was adjourned by the Examining Authority. The examination formally began on 8 November 2023 and closed on 8 May 2024.

The Examining Authority submitted its recommendation report to the Secretary of State by 8 August 2024, beginning the three-month decision window. The original deadline of 8 November 2024 was not met: on 6 November 2024, the government announced the decision would be delayed to 24 January 2025 to allow public consultation on the proposed variations.  

Secretary of State Ed Miliband granted the Development Consent Order on 24 January 2025. The DCO sets out 22 requirements that Island Green Power must satisfy,  including submissions to West Lindsey District Council and Bassetlaw District Council,  before physical construction can begin. A Correction Order was issued on 3 June 2025 and came into force on 4 June 2025.

West Burton Solar Project Current Status

As of May 2026, the West Burton Solar Project is in the pre-construction stage. It received development consent on 24 January 2025, and the developer says it is now preparing to construct the scheme.  

West Burton Solar Project Stakeholder Details

West Burton Solar Project Cost Details

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the West Burton Solar Farm Project:

• Electricity Generation Stations: The project comprises three electricity-generating stations, each with a capacity exceeding 50 MW. 
  

• Power Generation Asset: The three ground-mounted solar arrays are the project's primary power generation assets
  

• Energy Storage Facility: The facility is designed to house a Battery Storage System that stores excess electricity and uses it during low sunlight & higher demand. 
  

• Grid Connection: The project includes cables, substations, and related equipment needed to connect the solar farm to the electricity network through the existing substation.
  

• Infrastructure Support: It covers access roads, control buildings, fencing, drainage, and other equipment required to build and operate the site safely
  

Project Timeline

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the West Burton Solar Farm Project: 

• Generates Clean Electricity: The project supports clean electricity generation through renewable solar power, replacing fossil-fuel generation. 
  

• Meets Energy Demand: Upon operation, the facility is expected to power approximately 144,000 homes, supporting local & national electricity demand. 
  

• Reduce Carbon Emissions: The facility is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by up to 120,591 tonnes.  
  

• Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By producing solar power, the project helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional power generation. 
  

• Aligns with the UK’s Sustainability Goals: The project aligns with the UK’s wider shift toward cleaner, more reliable low-carbon energy.

Conclusion

The West Burton Solar Project is a 480 MW Solar PV project, located across three sites in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in England. Developed by Island Green Power (IGP), it holds a Battery Energy Storage Capacity of approximately 157 MW.

The approval from the Secretary of State in January 2025 marks the pivotal step in Island Green Power’s mission of supporting the UK’s transition to net zero. Being one of the largest NSIP solar consents in England, the facility is expected to power approximately 144,000 homes, produce clean electricity, & reduce carbon emissions by up to 120,591 tonnes annually. 

It uses existing grid connections and helps strengthen the country’s energy system, demonstrating how large-scale solar projects can contribute to both energy security and long-term decarbonization goals. 

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