Quinbrook and Private Energy Partners (PEP) have signed an agreement with Network Rail to avoid disruptive cable routing through the village of Essendine during construction of Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Network Rail have agreed that cabling can instead be run under the East Coast Mainline rather than carried via the A6121 railway bridge or new over-rail infrastructure.

This agreement will avoid significant local disruption in Essendine whilst ensuring that Mallard Pass Solar Farm can be delivered in line with the DCO approved by the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change in 2024.

Construction on the Solar Farm is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 following further community engagement and initial surveying and preparatory works.

Through engagement with local elected representatives, we recognise that there was a strong local preference for the cables to be underground and have been working closely with Network Rail to enable this to be delivered in line with local views.