PACE Submits Planning Appeal for Wheatenhurst Solar Farm, Gloucestershire
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) has submitted a planning appeal to the Planning Inspectorate for Wheatenhurst Solar Farm, following the decision by Stroud District Council to refuse the application in December 2025.
The proposed development, located at Epney, Framilode in Gloucestershire, would deliver up to 49.5 MW of solar generation capacity across a 47-hectare site, with an operational lifespan of 40 years.
Stroud District Council’s Development Control Committee refused the application on four grounds, relating to the landscape and visual impact of the grid connection compound, biodiversity net gain, habitats regulations assessment, and construction traffic management. PACE maintains that the reasons for refusal reflect information gaps at the point of determination, influenced by the limited timeframe available for submission, rather than fundamental planning objections, and the additional technical evidence submitted with the appeal addresses each concern comprehensively.
The appeal submission includes an enhanced landscape and visual impact assessment, additional wintering bird survey data, a Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment, a River Conditions Assessment, and a detailed Construction Traffic Management Plan - much of which was prepared and submitted to the Council prior to determination but was not accepted for consideration.
"The UK’s need for new renewable energy capacity is clear, and projects like Wheatenhurst have a genuine role to play in meeting it. We have worked hard to address the Council’s concerns and are confident the appeal evidence demonstrates that this is a well-designed scheme in an appropriate location."
Rob Denman, Managing Director, Pathfinder Clean Energy
The appeal is anticipated to be heard by an Inspector via Informal Hearing, subject to the discretion of the Inspectorate. PACE remains committed to engaging constructively with the Planning Inspectorate, the Council and local stakeholders throughout the appeal process.
One site. One team. Every part of the PACE business visits Three bridges Solar and BESS park
PACE Construction, the internal construction arm of Pathfinder Clean Energy, brought together teams from across the business including, development, finance, and legal on site at Three Bridges Solar Farm in Norfolk as the project advances through its electrical phase ahead of energisation.
The visit reflects PACE’s vertically integrated model, ensuring the teams responsible for developing, financing, and structuring projects are closely aligned with those delivering them on the ground.
Rob Denman, Managing Director at PACE said, “This is what vertical integration looks like in practice. When the people responsible for developing, financing, and structuring our projects stand on the same ground as the team building them, everyone makes better decisions. That alignment is a genuine competitive advantage.”
Bram Claeys, EPC Director at PACE said, “You learn things on site that you simply can’t get from a drawing. Having our development, finance, and legal teams walk the ground with us understanding the access, the sequencing, and the realities of construction, means the whole business is working from the same picture. That matters.”
Attlebrough Road Completes Panel Installation Ahead of Energisation
Back-to-Back: PACE Completes Panel Installation at Second 25 MWp Norfolk Solar Farm
PACE Construction completes structural phase at Attlebrough Road —the second major solar milestone in Norfolk in quick succession.
PACE Construction has completed the installation of all 35,235 solar panels at Attlebrough Road Solar Farm in Norfolk, marking the completion of the structural phase across the 79-acre site. The milestone follows the same achievement at PACE's nearby Three Bridges Solar Farm — with both 25 MWp projects reaching this stage in quick succession. Delivering two solar farms of equal scale simultaneously, in the same county, reflects PACE Construction's approach to accelerating the build-out of clean energy infrastructure. Attleborough Road will repurpose low-grade agricultural land to generate 25 MWp of clean solar power, forming part of PACE's growing UK renewable energy portfolio.
“The global energy picture is increasingly uncertain, and the case for domestic clean power has never been stronger. The UK cannot afford to be dependent on volatile international markets. Projects like Attlebrough Road and Three Bridges are part of the answer — home-grown, reliable clean energy delivered at the scale and pace the country needs.” - Rob Denman, Managing Director, Pathfinder Clean Energy
“Running two projects of this capacity concurrently in the same region is a serious logistical undertaking — and our teams have delivered on both. It’s a real statement of PACE’s capability: the people, the processes, and the programme management to execute at scale without compromising on quality or safety.” - Bram Claeys, EPC Director, PACE Construction
The project now moves into its electrical installation and commissioning phase, with energisation targeted later in 2026.
Three Bridges Solar Farm Completes Panel Installation Ahead of Energisation
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) is pleased to announce the completion of structural installation at its Three Bridges Solar Farm in Norfolk, with over 35,000 solar panels now in place across the 86-acre site. Delivered by PACE's internal construction team, the project combines 25 MWp of solar generation with a co-located 32.6 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), creating a hybrid renewable energy asset that will provide clean power and grid flexibility to the UK network.
Construction is now entering its final electrical installation and commissioning phase, with energisation targeted for later this year. Once operational, Three Bridges is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 9,000 UK homes annually, while avoiding an estimated 4,500 tonnes of CO₂e emissions every year.
Rob Denman, Managing Director of Pathfinder Clean Energy, said:
“Reaching this milestone at Three Bridges is a significant step forward for the project and reflects the excellent progress made by our construction team on site. Solar generation and battery storage working together is exactly the kind of clean, flexible infrastructure the UK needs.”
Bram Claeys, Business Development and EPC Director at PACE Construction, said:
“The successful completion of the structural installation at Three Bridges demonstrates PACE Construction’s expertise in delivering complex renewable energy projects to the highest standards. Our team has maintained an exemplary safety record throughout the construction phase while working efficiently to install over 35,000 solar panels across the site. This reflects the dedication of our skilled workforce and our commitment to technical excellence in every aspect of the build. We’re proud to be delivering this important renewable infrastructure for Norfolk and contributing to the UK’s clean energy future.”
Pathfinder Clean Energy UK Secures Approval for 140 MWp Thurleigh Road Solar
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) has secured planning approval for its 49.9 MW Thurleigh Road Solar Farm in Bedfordshire, designed with an installed capacity of 140 MWp, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of new clean energy infrastructure in the UK.
The solar farm will be co-located with PACE’s previously consented Thurleigh Road Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), creating a highly efficient, integrated renewable energy hub.
By sharing grid infrastructure across both developments, the project will provide flexibility and reduce long term grid management costs, delivering efficiencies for the grid operator and ultimately helping to reduce costs for consumers.
Rob Denman, Managing Director at PACE, said:
“Securing planning for this innovative project is a significant milestone for PACE, combining substantial solar generation and BESS in a highly connected location in central England.
This success alongside strong results for PACE UK in Allocation Round 7a and continued progress through grid reform and pipeline permitting are clear indicators of the momentum we are building.
Our focus remains on delivering clean infrastructure that provides energy at scale while creating a platform for innovation, energy security and sustainable growth in the countries in which we operate. Thurleigh Road is a key part of that UK strategy.
Our internal construction team, PACE EPC, will now progress the project toward construction, targeting grid connection in 2027.”
PACE secures CfDs for 168 MW of UK solar in Allocation Round 7a
PACE is delighted to announce that it has secured Contracts for Difference (CfD) for 168 MW of solar PV capacity across eight projects in the UK Government’s Allocation Round 7a. Projects were awarded within Pot 1 at a strike price of £65.23/MWh (2024 prices).
The outcome of AR7a was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the 10th of February 2026, marking a powerful endorsement of PACE’s clean energy pipeline and its contribution to the UK’s net-zero transition.
The awards provide long-term revenue certainty across a significant portfolio of utility-scale solar projects and reflect the strength and maturity of PACE’s late-stage development pipeline.
Across Allocation Round 7a, nearly 4.9 GW of solar capacity was awarded nationally, demonstrating continued investor confidence in UK solar and the role of established technologies in supporting the country’s energy security and decarbonisation objectives.
Rob Denman, CEO of Pathfinder Clean Energy, said:
“PACE is delighted to have secured CfDs for eight projects totalling 168 MW of capacity, positioning us as one of the leading clean energy companies in the UK’s Allocation Round 7a.”
“Our internal construction team - PACE EPC - is already in construction on two of these projects with the commercial operations date in mid-2026. The remaining are scheduled to follow in 2027.”
“This endorses our strategy to bring in-house expertise across the complete asset lifecycle - development, construction and operation - to manage risk and drive the best results for the projects and the markets in which we operate.”
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How CfDs work by Solar Energy UK
The key function of CfDs is to reduce the risk of volatile prices hitting consumers and damaging investor confidence. It thus lowers the cost of capital and in turn energy bills, while the clean generation it secures helps push expensive natural gas off the grid.
The system uses competitive bidding to keep down the cost of support for renewable energy, with operators being paid a fixed amount regardless of the prevailing price for wholesale power. When wholesale electricity prices are below the agreed strike price, operators receive top-up payments from consumers. When wholesale prices exceed the strike price, operators pay the difference back, reducing the ‘policy costs’ applied to bills.
Mace Construct partners with clean infrastructure company PACE to advance sustainable AI data centres in the UK
Mace Construct, one of the UK’s top construction firms, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with clean infrastructure developer and investor Pathfinder Clean Energy Limited (PACE).
PACE has a portfolio of secured clean power able to supply 168MW of IT capacity. Power availability is expected to come online as early as 2027, and data capacity following from 2028.
The partnership will see Mace Construct engaged at the earliest stages of these projects – RIBA Stage 0: Strategic Definition. The agreement incentivises collaboration as each project progresses from initial conception through to execution.
PACE expects the initial three sites to enter construction in 2026. These sites are strategically positioned in high-demand regions with secured grid capacity, specifically the Southeast, West Midlands and West of England. The sites are being developed to support ‘latency-sensitive’ applications such as high-performance computing and AI.
Once built, the facilities will be powered through ‘direct wire’ renewable power generation and energy storage from the outset, creating the foundation for scalable, energy-backed digital infrastructure.
Alister Grey, Managing Director for Technology & Manufacturing, Mace Construct, said:
“We take pride in collaboration, providing construction expertise and early engagement, that allows us to optimise design and build outcomes, bringing best-in-class value to our clients. It’s great to use our decades of experience delivering some of the biggest and most complex data centres in Europe, to provide advice on these projects and deliver them on site. I am confident that this will be a long-term successful partnership that will drive sustainability in an energy intensive sector”.
Rob Denman, CEO of PACE Group, said:
“Power and sovereignty are the defining challenges of the data centre industry today, and sites that can secure a fast and reliable energy connection, will be those that succeed. PACE Group has a portfolio of over 1.2GW of clean energy projects with near-term grid connections across the UK, and further assets internationally.
By working with Mace Construct across these three lead sites, bringing over 168MW of clean-powered compute into operation, our combined capabilities position us as leaders in this emerging sector where clean energy and sustainable compute come together.
Through combining our experience in developing and constructing clean infrastructure and utilising Mace Construct’s industry-leading data centre delivery experience, we will lay the foundation for the next generation of digital infrastructure for AI and high-performance computing in the UK.
This is an exciting time for PACE as we bring forward the urgent data centre capacity in the markets where it is needed most - UK and internationally”.
Pathfinder Clean Energy welcomes Lucille De Silva as General Counsel
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) is pleased to announce that Lucille De Silva has joined the company as General Counsel. In this role, she will lead PACE’s legal function and support the company’s global growth and delivery across clean infrastructure.
Lucille brings more than 30 years of international experience in energy and infrastructure, covering project development, financing, and M&A. She has advised on major clean energy and low-carbon projects worldwide, including large-scale solar, wind, storage, grid infrastructure, and corporate power procurement initiatives.
Her expertise spans every stage of the project lifecycle — from structuring and financing to regulatory frameworks, subsidy mechanisms, and power purchase agreements - as well as the growing intersection between clean energy and digital infrastructure.
Rob Denman, Managing Director of PACE, commented:
“We are thrilled to welcome Lucille to PACE. Her exceptional legal expertise and global experience across clean energy and infrastructure will be invaluable as we expand our portfolio of innovative projects worldwide. Lucille’s leadership ensures that our legal and commercial capabilities remain world-class as we deliver the next generation of clean infrastructure.”
PACE to power the next generation of digital infrastructure
Building on more than a decade of expertise in delivering resilient, low-carbon energy infrastructure, Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) is advancing a new platform that unites sustainable power generation with the development and operation of data centres. The initiative positions PACE at the forefront of a new model for digital infrastructure - one built on secured grid capacity, scalable co-located renewable energy and high-performance computing and AI workloads.
Our lead three UK data centre projects are scheduled to enter construction in late 2026. Each scheme combines secured grid capacity in high-demand regions with co-located renewable generation and storage, creating the foundation for scalable, energy-backed digital infrastructure. These flagship sites are being designed to support latency-sensitive applications, including high-performance computing and AI workloads - powered through direct private-wire connections to utility-scale renewable generation and energy storage assets.
Alongside these lead projects, PACE is developing a wider international infrastructure pipeline co-located with PACE’s energy infrastructure assets, capable of delivering hundreds of additional megawatts of clean, grid-secured capacity across the UK and internationally. This approach reinforces PACE’s long-term growth strategy and positions the company as a leading clean infrastructure developer and operator.
“The data centre sector is undergoing profound transformation, driven by the rapid rise of AI and high-performance computing,” said Rob Denman, CEO of PACE Group. “With power scarcity now the defining challenge for new digital infrastructure, the operators who succeed will be those who can secure resilient, low-carbon power at scale. PACE is already there: we have grid capacity ready to go, backed by substantial renewable and storage assets available from day one and a team that can deliver. The sector allows us to apply the capabilities we’ve built over many years, in a space where energy and resilience are the critical bottlenecks. Our first projects - due to be announced in early 2026 - show the strength of our platform and team, with a UK and international pipeline that reflects the scale of opportunity ahead.”
PACE’s infrastructure developments are power-first, policy-aligned, and execution-led - beginning with secured grid connections and designed to integrate clean generation and battery storage from the outset. By connecting energy and digital infrastructure, PACE is enabling demand to locate where power, policy, and sustainability align.
This underscores PACE’s belief that the next frontier of decarbonisation is not only how we power the grid - but how we power the wider clean infrastructure sector - digital and traditional.
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) submits planning appeal for Tydd Solar Farm proposal in Fenland
Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE), a UK-headquartered clean infrastructure developer and investor, has submitted an appeal to the Secretary of State regarding its Tydd Solar Farm proposal near Gorefield in Cambridgeshire.
The proposed ground-mounted 49.9MW solar and 30MW battery energy storage project would generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 22,000 homes each year, offsetting more than 16,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually over its lifetime. The scheme forms part of PACE’s commitment to support the UK’s transition to a secure, low-carbon energy system.
Despite being recommended for approval by the Council’s planning officer, the application was refused by Members of Fenland District Council in June 2025, prompting PACE to submit an appeal under Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The 140-hectare site, located east of Guanockgate Road, has been carefully designed to balance renewable generation with landscape sensitivity and biodiversity enhancement. Alongside the substantial renewable gains achieved by combining solar generation and battery storage in one location, the scheme will deliver extensive ecological improvements - including new hedgerow planting, wildflower meadows, and managed grazing - ensuring the land remains productive and biodiverse throughout its 40-year life.
Environmental studies confirm the scheme would deliver a biodiversity net gain outcomes far exceeding statutory requirements.
Rob Denman, Managing Director of PACE, said:
“Tydd Solar Farm is a clear example of how renewable energy projects can align with national climate goals while supporting local land use and biodiversity priorities. We remain confident that the appeal will recognise the strong planning and environmental case for the project.”
A decision on the Tydd Solar Farm appeal is expected in the coming months.