Lightrock Power, a wildlife friendly renewables developer, has secured planning consent this week for its Parc Worlton Solar Farm near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan from Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
The project is another successful collaboration with Lightrock’s development partners, Bluefield. Bluefield Solar Income Fund, the first solar PV investment company listed on the London Stock Exchange, launched in July 2013 with the ticker BSIF. BSIF, which now has over £1.3bn in AUM and over 200 assets in the portfolio, co-owns the Parc Worlton project with Lightrock Power.
Parc Worlton is Lightrock’s first solar farm project in Wales. Once operational, Parc Worlton will be able to generate enough electricity to power over ten thousand GB households per annum and will contribute to the Senedd’s goal for net zero emissions by 2050.
Lightrock was founded in 2017 by Chris Sowerbutts and Ben Davies because they wanted to ensure that renewables development was fully committed to sustainability and delivered wildlife friendly projects. In line with their values, Parc Worlton will deliver a 55% Biodiversity Net Gain. To achieve those gains, Lightrock partners with the RSPB and works with organisations such as Buglife, the Barn Owl Trust, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the UK Wild Otter trust and others.
Biodiversity measures at Parc Worlton Solar Farm giving 55% BNG
Parc Worlton is Lightrock’s first consent of 2025 and, working with Bluefield again, it hopes for a further consent for a 100MW BESS project in the south of England shortly, having been recommended for approval at a planning committee scheduled later this week.
Construction on Parc Worlton is expected to be around 9 months following procurement of the EPC contracts.
Over its lifespan, Parc Worlton will also deliver a generous community benefit endowment fund. This will be administered by third party on behalf of the community, and is designed to last in perpetuity, still generating money for local causes long after the solar panels have been recycled.
Chris Sowerbutts, co-founder of Lightrock Power said:
“We are delighted to receive consent from the Welsh Ministers today for Parc Worlton. We are particularly proud that the project will not only power over 10,000 homes per annum, but also create a 55% Biodiversity Net Gain and a Community Benefit Endowment Fund designed to last in perpetuity.
“I want to thank the community for all their engagement and feedback, which really helps us to optimise our projects. Lightrock will continue to seek to develop the most wildlife friendly projects it can, whilst contributing to our collective move away from fossil fuels and achieving energy security in the UK.”
Neil Wood, Partner of Bluefield Partners LLP said:
“Parc Worlton Solar Farm represents another exciting co-development opportunity for Bluefield Solar, and we have been delighted to work with Lightrock Power to deliver this.
“At Bluefield, our aim is to play a key role in the United Kingdom’s clean energy transition, and this project represents another positive step towards decarbonising the energy supply, not only in Wales but across the UK more broadly “
