Major 500MW Clean Air Solar Farm Proposed Near Beverley to Power 160,000 Homes
Renewable energy specialists and joint partners, PS Renewables and Ørsted Onshore, have announced fresh proposals for a substantial 500MW solar farm near Beverley in East Yorkshire. This new scheme, named the Clean Air Solar Farm, represents a revised and updated version of the previously announced Kingfisher Solar Farm, which was first introduced in January 2025.
Revised Project Details and Significant Capacity
The Clean Air Solar Farm features a revised site boundary and is projected to generate sufficient electricity to power approximately 160,000 UK homes. This makes it one of the largest planned solar farms in the country, coming just a week after the Government approved what is set to become the UK's largest solar farm, rated at 800MW. The project would be spread across two distinct sites near Beverley, with a northern site located roughly three miles north of Beverley, to the east of the A164, and a southern site positioned to the southwest of the A1079.
Plans for the northern site were initially presented to the public during a consultation in February 2025 under the Kingfisher Solar Farm name. The project will tie into the planned Wanlass Beck substation, which forms an extension of the existing Creyke Beck substation, ensuring efficient integration into the national grid.
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project Status
Given the substantial volume of electricity the Clean Air Solar Farm would produce, it is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This classification means that the final decision on whether to grant consent for the development rests with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than the local council, as would typically be the case with standard planning matters. A planning ruling is anticipated in 2028, and if consent is granted, the solar farm is projected to become operational by 2033.
Evolution of the Project and Community Engagement
Randall Linfoot from the Clean Air Solar Farm team explained the project's evolution, stating, "Since we first introduced Kingfisher Solar Farm, there have been significant changes. The project was originally developed to utilise spare grid capacity associated with Ørsted's Hornsea 4 offshore wind project. However, with Hornsea 4 returning to development, we have been following the statutory National Energy System Operator (NESO) Gate 2 process to secure a new grid connection."
He added, "New project partners PS Renewables are a highly experienced UK renewable energy developer. Together with Ørsted Onshore, the project proposals and site boundary have evolved. To reflect these collective changes and a fresh start to our proposal, we decided to rename it to Clean Air Solar Farm."
The Clean Air Solar Farm is expected to make a significant contribution toward meeting the UK's ambitious plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The team is committed to making a long-term, positive impact and values community feedback, which has been carefully reviewed and incorporated into the plans.
Upcoming Public Information Sessions
A series of Public Information Days regarding the scheme will take place in the local area during June 2026. These drop-in sessions, held in Lockington, Beverley, and Walkington, will provide local communities near the site with an opportunity to learn more about the proposals, speak directly with the project team, and share their views on the developing design. This will be followed by a consultation period in Autumn 2026, ensuring ongoing community involvement in the project's progression.
