Powering a reliable energy
future for the UK

Arrow Valley Solar is a company owned by Island Green Power (IGP). Established in 2013, IGP is a leading developer of utility-scale solar projects and battery storage systems.

We currently operate in the UK only, but have previously delivered projects in Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

The way we produce our energy is changing. The demand for electricity is continuing to increase and there is a clear need for affordable, reliable and secure energy generation in the UK.

Arrow Valley Solar will help generate clean, domestic energy, reducing reliance on imports and helping to stabilise energy costs.

Within each solar site, we will apply environmental buffers to ensure we do not put solar panels or any other infrastructure too close to hedgerows, trees, watercourses or other sensitive areas, as well as houses.

We will also deliver landscaping, planting, and other environmental enhancements across the sites. This could include grassland beneath panels, areas of wildflower meadows, and additional trees and hedgerows.

At this early stage of the project, we have not yet decided where within the sites any of this infrastructure will go.

We will be developing our proposals over the course of 2026 to consider the results of environmental surveys, before undertaking a public consultation at the end of the year.

All landowners that we work with will carry on farming on their wider landholdings. They will still be able to graze livestock in the fields where the panels are located.

The size of the project means it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). NSIPs require a specific type of development application under the Planning Act 2008, called a ‘Development Consent Order’.

A Development Consent Order (DCO) is a form of planning permission that must be applied for by developers of sites defined as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). This includes large-scale solar farms because of their scale and generating capacity. The Development Consent Order (DCO) includes a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and thorough public consultation.

We will consult local communities, policymakers, local authorities and relevant bodies, such as Natural England, to gain feedback, understand issues and help address concerns. We use this process to refine project proposals before the application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).

At the final stage of the DCO planning process, PINS will examine the application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

While the final decision is made by the Secretary of State, the local authority, community, and stakeholders all play a critical role in the process by providing valuable feedback and insights that inform the design.

The selection of a location for a solar project is based on several factors.

First, there must be confirmation from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) that the network in the local area has sufficient capacity to connect the solar project to the electricity supply. The grid operator decides where a project will connect.

From there we have discussions with landowners who have suitable land to meet the requirements for a solar farm. We then undertake preliminary assessments to check from an environmental perspective that the land could be suitable to host solar infrastructure.

Once we have confirmation of a grid connection and that there are no significant planning constraints, we will develop a legal agreement (called an option agreement) with landowners.

This says we could use the identified land for a solar project for a specified period of time.

Ultimately grid capacity, land availability, planning and environmental constraints will determine the most suitable location for a solar farm.

We have a number of different landowners who are involved in the project.

These local farmers and landowners see the project as an opportunity to diversify how their land is used, with a guaranteed income for up to 60 years, while continuing farming practices.

The solar project is temporary, and the land can be restored to its original use once it is decommissioned.

For Arrow Valley Solar, we have a connection agreement in place to connect to the national electricity grid at Feckenham Substation in Worcestershire.

We are beginning environmental surveys and the formal planning process.

We will work with local stakeholders and the community on developing and refining the design over the course of 2026.

Taking into account any feedback received during formal consultation in late 2026, we would aim to submit our DCO application in Q2 2027.

No. Once our application is submitted, we are subject to a rigorous assessment process carried out by PINS. For more information on this process click here.

PINS will then provide a recommendation to the Secretary of State, who ultimately decide whether the project should be approved.

Subject to planning approval we expect the solar project to be operational by 2031. This means that construction would start around 2029.

As part of the DCO process, we will investigate any potential local impacts of construction and will propose measures to mitigate them if necessary.

We would be required to develop a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) to outline how construction activities will be managed throughout the construction process.

We will also prepare a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) to outline how traffic movement during construction would be managed.

We will consult closely with local communities, stakeholders and policy makers throughout the project planning process to understand concerns then use feedback to develop and refine our final proposals so that we address local concerns and deliver lasting benefits – whether direct funding to local causes or biodiversity improvements.  

This includes organising events where interested parties can meet the project team; sharing information via newsletters, leaflets, and a dedicated website; and holding regular briefing meetings with key stakeholders.  

Consultation on a solar NSIP happens before an application is submitted. The aim is to engage local communities, gather feedback, address concerns, and make necessary adjustments to the project design based on input from stakeholders. There may be further consultation if the application must be revised, significant changes are proposed, or new information comes to light. 

We have begun to contact landowners within the area we have identified as a potential cable route corridor for the Project, as well as landowners just outside this area that have a pond within their ownership, that we need to survey for the presence of great crested newts. If you have had a letter, please contact our Land Agents on the below contact details:

Email: Arrowvalleysolar@dalcourmaclaren.com

Number: 0333 188 5374

If you have not received a letter, but believe you may have land within this area, then please use the contact details to contact Dalcour Maclaren, who will be able to advise whether your land is within the area or not.

Arrow Valley is a new solar and energy storage project in south Warwickshire and east Worcestershire.

The project would connect up-to 500 megawatts of clean, renewable energy a year. In addition, the project includes battery storage facility capable of storing up to 250 megawatts of electricity until its needed, so that the UK can benefit from solar power, even when the sun isn’t shining. 

A utility-scale solar farm is a large-scale installation of solar panels that generate electricity by converting sunlight into electrical energy using photovoltaic cells. The electricity generated is distributed to the National Grid, with the energy then used to power homes and businesses across the UK.  

Solar contributes to the UK’s energy security with clean, homegrown energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels subject to volatile prices. As one of the lowest-cost forms of generation, solar also contributes to the goal of reducing bills for UK families and businesses. 

Solar power works well throughout the UK as panels generate electricity using any sunlight, not just direct sunlight, so produce electricity year-round, even on cloudy days.

Our projects are temporary, in that they will be removed after a maximum of 60 years. This temporary permission requires us to remove the equipment at the end of the period. 

The project will be fully funded by IGP and requires no subsidies from the UK taxpayer.  

The solar farm will comprise the following elements:  

• Ground-mounted solar arrays 

• Inverter/transformer units  

• Underground cable connections between different parcels of land 

• Battery energy storage system (BESS) 

• On-site substation 

• An underground cable connection to a National Grid substation to connect to the national electricity transmission system  

• Temporary construction compounds 

• Works to create, maintain and enhance the natural environments, including the delivery of at least 10% biodiversity net gain 

• New temporary and permanent accesses, along with associated infrastructure 

• Fencing and security measures   

Solar power is a clean source of electricity, meaning that no carbon emissions are created when energy is generated in this way. Some of the other benefits associated with solar include:  

1. Solar power is cheaper to produce than fossil fuel sources of electricity. 
2. Solar and battery storage support the UK’s energy security by providing more homegrown power. 
3. Solar is generally quicker to build than other sources of renewable or low carbon power.  

Whilst Arrow Valley Solar Farm will not reduce your energy bills instantly, it will contribute to boosting the UK’s energy security, which should help to reduce the volatility of energy prices in the future. Solar power is significantly cheaper to produce than power from fossil fuel sources.  

The solar sector is working with Government and the real estate industry to tackle barriers to putting solar on large rooftops. However, this will not happen quickly and will not replace the need for ground-mounted schemes. 

Most commercial leases require the tenant to maintain the building and do not allow for doing this under solar panels owned by the landlord. The sector is working on new standard lease terms that will enable solar installation. Once agreed, these terms will be rolled out over the next 10 – 15 years. 

However, these will still be relatively small installations. UK retailer Iceland installed solar on two distribution warehouses. The annual output is equivalent to the annual consumption of less than six of their stores. 

The planning process for a DCO typically takes around 18 months before the application is submitted then a further 18 months for the application to be determined.  

During the application, there is usually six months of Examination which includes hearings that all stakeholders, including members of the public, are able to attend.

The Examining Authority is part of the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) who then has three months to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Department of Energy Security and Net Zero who then has a further three months to make a decision. The Secretary of State may ask for further information prior to making a decision which can extend the timeline.  

During the consultation there will be opportunities to provide feedback on the plans for Arrow Valley. More information about how to provide feedback will be available once the consultation is launched in 2026.

Outside the consultation periods you can contact the project team via email at info@arrowvalleysolar.co.uk or via Freephone line at 08081891786. 

We have previously used feedback from consultation to make modifications to project designs that reduce the visual or environmental impact by introducing additional mitigation measures, such as enhanced landscaping or noise reduction. Every project we have developed to date has been improved by feedback we have received during public consultation.  

Feedback can also highlight potential issues that the project could cause to the local area such as those related to traffic, construction timings, or local infrastructure. By understanding the risk, we can make design changes that minimise the impact of the project and ensure it is more aligned to community needs.

We also use public consultation to influence how we will develop then distribute community benefits, such as funding for community projects, renewable energy schemes, or other local services. 

We are committed to ensuring that communities benefit from our solar and BESS projects including by receiving direct funding to important causes in the local area.

During the development of the project proposals, we will consult on community benefits and, based on feedback, determine how best to distribute funding.  

There is almost no research on the effect of solar farms on property prices in the UK. During the design phase of any project, we review the landscape and visual impacts of the proposals from key viewpoints and, with designated landscape officers, ensure our designs will cause minimal disruption. 

As Arrow Valley will connect directly into the electricity transmission network, it is not possible for local residents to benefit directly from the power generated by it. This is because the power will be moved around the network to suit demand.

However, residents will benefit from the long-term benefits that will arise as part of the Proposed Development, including increased energy security as a result of reduced reliance on imported oil and gas from overseas. 

Arrow Valley Solar Farm is a new solar and energy storage project in south Warwickshire and east Worcestershire. 

The selection of a location for a solar farm is based on several factors. First, there must be confirmation from the electricity grid that the local network has sufficient capacity to connect the solar farm to the electricity supply.

Then, we either are approached by landowners or identify landowners willing to provide enough suitable land to meet the requirements for a solar farm. This includes ensuring that the land available aligns with the capacity determined by the electricity grid and is suitable based on preliminary assessments from an environmental and planning perspective.