Statkraft, a renewable energy developer, has submitted a scoping report for the Mylen Leah solar project, a proposed 500MW solar PV power plant in Yorkshire, England.
First revealed in September 2024, the project is classified as a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP). Statkraft plans to submit the final development consent order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate by late 2025, with a planning decision anticipated in 2027.
Construction timelines remain uncertain, but Statkraft estimates a two-year build period, suggesting the earliest commissioning date could be 2029. Once operational, the project is expected to have a lifespan of up to 60 years.
The solar farm would span approximately 1,200 hectares of farmland, with parts of the site allocated for biodiversity initiatives like tree planting and hedgerow development.
It is also located near other Statkraft projects, including the Greener Grid Park, under construction near Thornton, and the Soay Solar Farm, set to begin construction this year.
Matt Simpson, Senior Solar Project Manager at Statkraft, stated: “We’re pleased to have submitted the scoping report for Mylen Leah Solar Farm to the Planning Inspectorate, the first key milestone in the project’s timeline, setting out the parameters for the environmental-related surveys that we’ll be conducting as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
If consented, Mylen Leah will significantly contribute to delivering home-grown green electricity and reducing carbon emissions for us all. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the local community as we take the project forward.”
