Law firm Acuity advises West Sussex on first council-owned solar farm in county

Law firm Acuity has advised West Sussex County Council on the first council-owned solar farm in the county.

The Tangmere solar farm, a 25-acre project worth £5m, was officially switched on on 7th October 2015. It is forecast to earn £13.8m over 20 years, generating enough energy to power 1,500 homes.

Acuity advised the council, the lead authority in the Your Energy Sussex Partnership, on the original competitive dialogue procurement to appoint developer Carillion under an overarching contract, and subsequently on the agreements for specific projects including the solar farm itself.

The law firm said: “The project is the first large scale project of its kind undertaken by the Your Energy Sussex Partnership and is a significant step in meeting the Partnership’s objectives of improving energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and consumer energy costs and alleviating fuel poverty.

“The projects also seek to safeguard and create employment opportunities and maximise the socio-economic benefits arising from the activities undertaken in pursuing the Partnership’s objectives.”

Craig Griffiths, Commercial Projects partner and lead legal advisor at Acuity, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this innovative project and to support long-standing clients West Sussex County Council to achieve a key part of their Corporate Strategy as well as the collaborative objectives of the Your Energy Sussex Partnership.”