WHY LIGHTROCK?

We are a small UK-based team, concerned about climate change and the environment. It’s time to change how our energy is generated and delivered to our homes, and we want to be a part of that.

We want to do the right thing for our planet, our communities and our natural habitats, and we know that solar energy can benefit both society and the natural world.

At Lightrock Power we do things the right way. This means:

  • We engage with communities

    We hold community consultations early on in our process so that the communities that we join can have a genuine say in the design. We give you the chance to discuss any concerns with a director - we want to be able to alleviate any worries that you may have through open conversation.

  • We encourage biodiversity on our sites

    We have partnered with the RSPB, and also work with specialist organisations such as UK Wild Otter Trust, and The Barn Owl Trust to help us ensure that we get the maximum ecological benefit from our sites. Some measures that we take to increase biodiversity are planting wildflower borders for pollinators and hedgerows of native plants for birds, maintaining natural grassland to provide habitat for reptiles and amphibians, and installing bird and bat boxes throughout our sites. We use deer fencing with space for small mammals to pass under, which helps to create a safe haven for our wildlife.

  • We benefit the communities that we join

    We have a preference for employing local contractors and using local services, providing local employment where we can. Although the National Planning Framework regards solar farms as a community benefit in themselves, we may be able to offer a community benefit fund to local causes - please contact us if you know of a cause that could benefit. We are keen that our farms are used for educational benefit as well as harvesting power. Local schools or groups are encouraged to contact us for a chat about what we can offer.

  • We’re sensitive to the landscape

    We limit visual impact with appropriate screening, and are fully committed to restoring land to its former use at the end of our lease. Our solar panels are installed using pile driven technology, which limits impact on the land. During the project’s lifetime, the land is able to recover, improving the soil quality for when it is farmed again. We never build solar farms on protected landscapes or conservation areas.

Lightrock Power works with Bluefield to develop solar farms in the UK. While the initial planning and design work is carried out by Lightrock Power, the installation, operation and maintenance is taken on by Bluefield. Any planning permission and conditions apply to the site itself, which means Lightrock and Bluefield are both committed to their implementation

THE SWEETBRIAR SOLAR FARM TEAM

BEN Co-Founder

Ben comes from a farming background and applies his knowledge of rural land management to solar farms, ensuring they can bring a positive contribution to the UK farming and agriculture industry. Ben lives in Gloucestershire and enjoys swimming and exploring the South-West with his young family.

CHRIS Co-Founder

Chris is our resident eco-geek, focused on making efficient grid connections and designing exemplary solar farms, with a particular interest in collaborating with our wildlife partners to optimise the biodiversity benefits. Chris lives in Yorkshire, and enjoys gardening with his young family, and cycling in the Peak District National Park.

FIONA Community Stakeholder Manager

Fiona handles day to day management of Lightrock Power’s PR and communications, writing public documents and liaising with contractors, key stakeholders and local communities. Fiona lives in Yorkshire, and enjoys walks in the Peak District with her husband and young daughter, and can otherwise be found tending to her wildlife garden.

MICHELLE Planning Project Manager

Michelle has recently completed an RTPI accredited Masters degree with a background in environmental policy and sustainability. Michelle lives in Yorkshire and, when she’s not ensuring the smooth running of the planning process, spends much of her time travelling around the country with friends and creating healthy (and delicious) recipes.

 For further information about who we are and what we do, please visit www.lightrockpower.com.