Pragmatic, open and transparent partnerships with landowners who provide the ground for renewable projects.
Creating projects that will positively contribute to the environment, locally and globally.
Developing projects that are sensitive, and deliver benefits, to all stakeholders.
The seeds of Redstart’s conception were sown in 2014 when John Lindsay, Chartered Surveyor, began his journey to develop large-scale solar projects in Scotland. Since then he has originated and developed over 200MW of distribution-connected solar and battery projects in Scotland, working with a number of owners, developers and funders.
The following articles give a flavour of some of the solar project successes that Scotland has had to date:
Each project was identified and designed to have a low visual impact.
Each project will significantly enhance the biodiversity of the areas they occupy.
Each project will make a valuable contribution towards tackling the climate emergency and help Scotland to meet its ambitious low carbon targets.
The Redstart is a robin-sized bird with a red tail. It appears mainly in Scotland and elsewhere in Britain during the summer.
The Redstart can be spotted in woodlands, particularly broadleaves such as oak or hazel.
It inhabits parks, hedges and will also readily take to nest boxes.
Research shows that solar farms contain a greater number of bird species and overall number of birds than surrounding arable farmland.
We’re looking to lease from you at least 80 acres (32 ha).
However, dependent on grid and planning considerations, we’d ideally like to lease upwards of 150 acres (61 ha).
If a site has good commercial viability, you can expect to earn a significant multiplier on the return produced by the current land use.
Lease length will be 35-40 years. The rental will be inflation index-linked with upwards only annual reviews.
A Community Benefit Fund will be established to support local good causes and make improvements that the community will directly benefit from.
The solar project will naturally increase the biodiversity of the area on which it is located and it can incorporate a range of ecological and wildlife enhancements on site to further positively impact on the area’s biodiversity.
Solar farms are temporary and the land will be fully reinstated to farmland once the equipment is removed at the end of the project life.
Developments have a life span of up to 40 years. The land does not become brownfield land and is not able to be converted into residential or commercial development following the decommissioning of the site.
No. Ground-mounted solar panels currently cover just 0.1% (One 1/1000) of all land in the UK. This equates to 14GW of installed solar.
Scottish & UK Government plans to significantly scale up solar in line with their net zero targets are expected to bring this up to just 0.3% of the total UK land area. This is the equivalent to around 0.5% of the land currently used for farming. As an aside, golf courses occupy double this figure.
The biggest threat to nature and food security and to our rural communities is not solar panels or onshore wind; it is the climate crisis, which threatens our best farmland, food production and the livelihoods of farmers.
The UK Government’s 2021 Food Security Report projects that, under a medium emissions scenario, the amount of top-grade ‘best and most versatile’ (BMV) category farmland would fall by 70% by 2050 – this is simply vast compared to the small amount of land expected to be used for solar generation.
Give John a call on 07907 941 204 to discuss a potential project
or feel free to submit your query on the form below.
