South Kent Energy Park
What is it?
South Kent Energy Park is a giant solar energy and battery storage (BESS) plant announced in November 2024 by the company Low Carbon. The company say it will generate up to 500MW of electricity and take up 1500 acres of grade 1 and 2 land north west of Lydd on Romney Marsh, some of the most fertile land in Kent.
Where is it?
If given planning consent by the government, South Kent Energy Park would totally surround the village of Old Romney with panels and BESS on either side of the historic Rhee Wall (today's A259). Its boundaries would also jut against the historic church ruins of Midley and Hope All Saints, potentially damaging their setting. The Rhee Wall is explicitly mentioned in the district council's Places and Policies Local Plan as a feature of Romney Marsh that should be protected.
Who decides if it will go ahead?
Like Shepway Energy Park, it is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) so it goes the national Planning Inspectorate with the final decision made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. It is expected that this will happen in 2027-2028.
What stage is it at now?
At the moment, Low Carbon have conducted a non-statutory consultation with communities, councils and other stakeholder organisations but they have not yet submitted a Scoping Study to the Planning Inspectorate. A second round of non-statutory consultation is expected in the spring or summer of 2026.