Paytherden Solar Farm Update June 2025

In July 2022, East Devon District Council granted planning permission for Paytherden Solar Farm which will be located near the village of Clyst Hydon. Once operational, the solar farm will have a capacity of 49 megawatts(MW) with the potential to generate energy equivalent to the needs of 15,000 UK homes. Following the award of planning permission, the Paytherden project was acquired from Lightrock Power by the BluefieldGroup, who intend to construct, own and operate the project.

The Bluefield Group is a well-established UK-based solar business which owns and operates over 270solar projects in the UK and employs 130 staff , mostly based within the Bristol operations o ice, together with field teams operating from regional hubs around the country.
Bluefield is committed to building long-term relationships with communities, landowners and local authorities and delivering lasting biodiversity benefits. More details can be found at: www.thebluefieldgroup.com. Over the next 12-18 months, the solar farm will be under construction and the team is keen to work proactively with the local community by providing updates to the Parish Council and through this magazine and answering questions and feedback as and when they arise.

Preparation works for the construction phase have recently begun. A construction management plan is agreed with East Devon District Council as the local planning authority as part of the planning. The Bluefield team is working closely with the Council to ensure that planning conditions stipulated by the Council during the planning stage are met and can be signed off or
discharged. For example, and Devon County Council’s archaeologist has requested that an archaeological survey be carried out, to understand what, if any, items of historical significance may be present on the site.

From mid June, Bluefield’s appointed archaeologists will undertake a strip mapping exercise, using a digger in order to reveal and map any archaeological features, followed by targeted excavation to preserve any items of interest for the future. This work is expected to take several days or even weeks, depending on weather conditions, and we will provide an update on the outcomes.
Bluefield is also in the process of appointing a EPC contractor (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) who will take on the main construction works once the project reaches that stage. We will keep you posted through our regular updates on how this work is progressing.

In the meantime, for any questions, concerns or feedback, the below communications
channels are in place for the community and their representatives to contact us:
• By email: consultation@yfactory.co.uk
• By Freephone : 0808 169 8082
• By Freepost : Freepost THE Y-FACTORY (no further address details or stamps required)

Thank you for your interest.

Marlies Koutstaal
Community engagement consultant
Onbehalf of Bluefiel