Low Horton Solar Farm & Battery Energy Storage System.

About the project

Low Horton Solar Farm & Battery Energy Storage System

Low Horton is a solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS), located south of the A1061 and west of the A192, between Cramlington and Blyth.

The development has a capacity of approximately 50MW and is expected to generate enough renewable energy to meet the average annual electricity needs of over 14,700 UK homes* – approximately the size of Blyth. It is expected to avoid approximately 11,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year** compared with equivalent fossil fuel generation, the equivalent produced by around 7,890 cars***.

50

Expected capacity (MW)

14,700

Homes served*

11,200

CO2 saved each year (Tonnes)

Building the project

The construction period is expected to take up to twelve months to be completed, depending on unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions.

Select a category to find out more

Transport Statement

The route for construction-related traffic has been agreed as part of the planning process and efforts will be made to minimise impacts. This website will be used to update on transport-related or other amenity issues which may have an impact locally throughout the construction period.

Additional information and plans

View site location and construction traffic route plan

Traffic during the construction phase

Substation construction

Traffic during the operational phase

Construction Method Statement

Site Layout Plan

The Master Site Layout Plan shows the location of solar PV panels, setbacks, planting and biodiversity enhancement areas, the indicative cable route, proposed substation location and access and temporary construction compounds.

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Indicative Timeline

This is subject to change, depending on unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions.

Please see the Indicative Programme of Work for more details.

2021 – Community consultation on Low Horton Solar Farm.
2022 – Low Horton Solar Farm granted planning consent.
2024 – Low Horton BESS granted planning consent.
September 2026 – Mobilisation for main construction phase of solar farm.
2027 – Solar farm commissioning and connection to electrical grid.
2027 – Low Horton Solar Farm becomes operational.

Landscape and Ecology

The project will be managed in line with the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) which can be viewed here.

The detailed landscape proposals can be viewed in here.

Ongoing Landscape and Ecological Enhancements

The layout of the proposed development has been designed to retain hedgerows, trees and ditches as far as practically possible..
Hedgerows will be retained on site and along with mature trees around the construction areas.
With native hedgerow planting and trees (of local provenance) to: strengthen field patterns and local landscape character; screen views of the development from PRoW and nearby dwellings; and increase valuable habitat provision and connectivity.
Proposed hedgerow with regular hedgerow trees shall run along thinner sections of boundary vegetation to provide full enclosure and afford filtered views only across the site from viewpoint beyond.
Strengthening and expanding the network of hedgerows across the site will help wildlife move more easily between habitats, while also enhancing the local landscape and supporting biodiversity.
An area of native tree and shrub planting is proposed to reinforce existing lines of vegetation within the site and/or create extensions of existing woodland and shrub areas, therefore strengthening existing ecological corridors, landscape character and site boundaries.
Tree and shrub species are consistent with the local landscape, with a variety of species to increase diversity across the site and contribute towards a biodiversity net gain.

The design and long-term management of the land seeks to maintain and improve functionality through protecting and enhancing potentially important wildlife corridors i.e. through new hedgerow creation and infill planting to strengthen existing hedgerows within and around the Site. The creation of extensive grassland habitat on fields which were formerly arable provides increased habitat for invertebrates and foraging, shelter and breeding opportunities for other wildlife.
Additional bird nesting provision will be made through the inclusion of 10 bird boxes erected on semi-mature/mature trees located along the field boundaries with and bordering the site.
Additional bat roost provision will be made through the inclusion of a minimum of 10 bat roost boxes on suitable trees along the field boundaries with and bordering the site.
A minimum of five insect boxes or ‘hotels’ will be placed around the Biodiversity Enhancement Area to provide habitat enhancements for a range of invertebrate species.
Ongoing maintenance and review of the BMP to ensure we are delivering on our promises

The Bluefield Group has a strong track record of delivering landscape and ecological enhancements that deliver Biodiversity Net Gain across a number of its solar farms. An example of this would be West Raynham Solar Farm in Norfolk, which was the first solar farm in the UK to be awarded the Wild Power Gold Certificate for on-site biodiversity.

Benefits of the project

Low Horton Solar Farm will bring a number of benefits to the local environment and community, including:

BENEFITS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Once operational, a community benefit fund will be provided by the project. The funds are provided for local projects that support:

Environment/conservation/ecology/biodiversity;
Wellbeing/health;
Support the reduction of energy poverty;
Education; and
Community renewable projects/energy efficiency projects.

The project will benefit the local economy by creating work for local suppliers and contractors, as well as jobs during the peak construction period. Once operational, it will continue to support the area through annual business rates contributions.

There will be additional investment in the local area and economy through annual business rates contributions.

BENEFIT FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The project has been designed to include onsite habitat creation to deliver over 65% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), measured using Defra’s biodiversity calculation metric. This is well in excess of the statutory 10% target.
All existing boundary and internal field hedgerows will be retained and reinforced as necessary, protecting and enhancing valuable wildlife corridors.
The site will be enclosed by deer stock fencing, which will keep larger predators out and therefore provide favourable conditions for smaller mammals and birds.
Once operational, the site will continue to be available for agricultural use as pastureland for sheep grazing.
The planting of native new hedgerows is expected to reinforce historic field boundaries and contribute positively to landscape character during operation and after decommissioning.
There are dedicated areas of wildflower planting within the site to enhance biodiversity and attract pollinators.

About Bluefield Renewable Developments

Bluefield Renewable Developments is a specialist solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project developer.

50

Years experience

100+

Renewable projects

610+

aggregate capacity of over 610 MWp

We seek long-term relationships with landowners, developers, and local communities to deliver high-quality projects, with environmental considerations embedded within the development process.

For more information on Bluefield Renewable Developments, visit our website.

Contact us

To get in touch with our project team and community liaison service, please fill out the below form.

Email us at info@lowhortonsolarfarm.co.uk
Call our Freephone service on 0800 274 0218, leave a message and we will get back to you.
Send us a letter at Freepost Bluefield Low Horton Solar Farm (no stamp required).

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Notes
*Assuming generation at 1,000kWh/kWp and dividing by the average consumption per household of 3,400kWh (Review of the average annual domestic gas and electricity consumption levels, DESNEZ March 2025).
** Gas is the primary fossil fuel source in the UK – carbon intensity of 0.232kg CO2e/kWh (Greenhouse Gas Reporting, Conversion Factors, DESNEZ, 2025). Carbon abated = 50m x 0.232 = 11,600 Tonnes.
***The average private car emits 1.47 tonnes of CO2 per annum (NimbleFins analysis of DoT data, March 2026). Carbon abated (tonnes) =11,600/1.47 = 7,890 private cars.