Rutland Solar Updates, Victory for Campaigners as Kilnside Solar Plans Withdrawn, Mixed Fortunes: Smaller Solar Farm Near Whissendine Approved

Rutland Solar Updates
By Rutland Democracy Reporter Sunday, February 8, 2026

Victory for Campaigners as Kilnside Solar Plans Withdrawn

In a move that has sparked celebrations across Rutland’s northern villages, plans for the massive 2,400-acre Kilnside Energy Park have been formally withdrawn.

The developer, Aukera, notified the Government Planning Inspectorate on January 30 that it does not wish to proceed with the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) "at this time." The proposed site would have blanketed vast tracts of agricultural land between Exton, Pickworth, and Great Casterton with hundreds of thousands of solar panels.

In a letter to the Inspectorate, Bernadette Barley, Aukera UK’s head of development, requested the immediate removal of the application from the government's portal.

While the withdrawal letter was brief, a spokesperson for Aukera later clarified that the decision was driven by the national "queue" for energy grid connections. "We are reviewing the project timeline following the results of the National Energy System Operator's (NESO) connection reform," the spokesperson stated.

Aukera was reportedly awarded a "Gate 1" offer, meaning they must wait for regional grid capacity to become available before securing a firm connection date. The company expects to provide a more detailed update to residents later this year.

For local residents, many of whom were "angered to the verge of tears" during public consultations, the news marks the end of a long period of uncertainty.

Miles Williamson-Noble, chair of the Stop Stamford Solar City action group, compared the relief to the lifting of a "cloud" similar to that hanging over residents near the HS2 or Heathrow projects. "This was never the right location," he said. "It was going to be bigger than Rutland Water and would have spoiled sites of national interest like the Losecoat Field battle site."

Sue Holloway of the Mallard Pass Action Group echoed the sentiment, calling it "fantastic news." She suggested that the lack of a viable National Grid substation in the immediate vicinity likely made the project commercially unfeasible.

Mixed Fortunes, Smaller Solar Farm Near Whissendine Approved

While the Kilnside project has stalled, Rutland’s landscape continues to shift. Just last week, Rutland County Council’s planning committee voted 10-1 to approve a separate solar farm at Stygate Lane.

Key Facts: Stygate Lane Solar Farm

• Size: Approx. 215 acres (the size of 130 football pitches).

• Output: Power for 25,000 homes over 40 years.

• Location: Between Pickwell, Somerby, and Whissendine.

• Developer: RWE Renewables.

The project had faced stiff opposition over flooding concerns, particularly in the village of Whissendine. However, Daniel Corcoran, development manager at RWE, assured the committee that the site is in "flood zone one" and poses no significant risk of surface water flooding.

"Support Farmers, Not Industrial Panels"

The approval has drawn sharp criticism from Conservative Councillor Giles Clifton, who welcomed the Kilnside withdrawal but remains wary of the Stygate Lane decision.

"Great news on Kilnside this giant development was not OK," Cllr Clifton said. "But we need to support our farmers to keep farming, not force giant industrial panels on Rutland."

In contrast, RWE argued that the income from the solar panels would actually enable the local farming family now in its fourth generation to reinvest in the land and keep the farm viable for the future.

Official Links:

• For the latest on the withdrawn plans: kilnsideenergypark.co.uk

• RWE Renewables:  https://www.rwe.com/en/

• Rutland County Council Planning Portal: rutland.gov.uk