Investments has provided £247m (€348m) in senior finance for a UK solar park portfolio.

The investment manager said it provided Lightsource Renewable Energy Holdings with a refinancing package with a 22-year term.

’s Infrastructure Debt Fund II said it is providing £49m to the firm.

M&G’s deal is the largest institutional refinancing in the UK ground-mounted solar photovoltaic sector.

The manager said its position in the refinancing takes its debt investment in the sector to more than £385m in the past 12 months.

The investment was made on behalf of Prudential and M&G’s pension fund clients.

John Mayhew, head of infrastructure finance at M&G, said: “Consolidation within the solar sector is providing investable opportunities for institutional clients.

“The injection of one-quarter of a billion pounds of long-term institutional financing will enable Lightsource to grow and develop further sites across the UK,� he said.

“The investment characteristics are attractive to our clients, and we are keen to carry out more deals of this nature.�

The portfolio of 33 fully operational solar parks is mainly in the south and east of England, with a further 14 assets under construction and expected to be operational by year-end.

Paul McCartie, structured finance director at Lightsource, said: “Refinancing deals such as this are an essential element in allowing companies within the solar industry to grow and develop.�