1. Notice is hereby given that Ecotricity (Heck Fen Solar) Limited of Lion House, Rowcroft, Stroud, England, GL5 3BY (the Applicant) proposes to apply to the Secretary of State for a DCO under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for the Heckington Fen Solar Park Project (the Application).

2. The proposed project comprises the construction, operation and decommissioning of a solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating facility exceeding 50 megawatt (MW) output capacity, together with associated energy storage. The installed capacity of the solar generation is expected to be in the order of 500MW.

3. The proposed application for development consent for the Heckington Fen Solar Park Project is being compiled by and consulted upon by the Applicant.

4. The Application is considered “EIA development” for the purposes of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the proposed works constitute development for which an Environmental Impact Assessment is required and the proposed application for a DCO will therefore be accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES).

5. The proposed Solar Park is sited within Lincolnshire (in the administrative boundary of North Kesteven District Council), north of the A17 and to the south east of South Kyme, with the Head Dike bounding the Site to the north, a smaller watercourse to the east, and Sidebar Lane to the west.

6. The connecting cable route corridor falls within North Kesteven District Council as it immediately leaves the Solar Park and then lies within the boundary of Boston Borough Council for the remainder of the route which extends approximately 7-8km in length and crosses the A17, the South Forty Foot Drain, and the railway line amongst other things, before connecting to Bicker Fen Substation via a new extension.

7. The proposed DCO would, amongst other things, authorise components including:

a. Construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) facility with an export capacity of over 50MW together with a battery energy storage system;

b. Associated and/or ancillary works including electricity inverters, transformers, onsite substations, the potential for above ground cabling across the Solar Park, underground cables connecting the Solar Park with the Bicker Fen Substation, an extension to the existing Bicker Fen Substation, landscaping, biodiversity areas, access tracks, construction compounds, control buildings, and welfare facilities;

c. The permanent and/or temporary compulsory acquisition of land and/or rights (if required) and the potential for overriding of easements and other rights over or affecting land;

d. The application and/or disapplication of legislation relating to the Heckington Fen Solar Park Project; and

e. Such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, licences, property rights, permits and consents as are necessary and/or convenient.

8. Project information brochures and feedback forms for Heckington Fen Solar Park can be accessed free of charge during Statutory Consultation from 30 June 2022 until 1 September 2022 at the places and times set out below:

9. Documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of Heckington Fen Solar Park, including the preliminary environmental information report (with a non-technical summary) are available for inspection free of charge on the project website (https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/heckington-fen-solar-park) under Consultation.

10. The aforementioned documents will also be available at public exhibitions to be held as follows:

Further details in relation to Heckington Fen Solar Park and the aforementioned documents can be found on the project website (https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/heckington-fen-solar-park) or requested via email (heckingtonfensolar@ecotricity.co.uk), over the phone (0800 151 0784), or by post (FREEPOST ECOTRICITY SOLAR PARK – no stamp needed). A USB of the consultation materials can be supplied free of charge on request. Paper copies of all statutory consultation materials are also available in hard copy at no extra charge (except the PEIR, a hard copy of which can be requested for a charge of £0.35 per page to cover printing and posting costs).

11. Any responses to, or other representations in respect of, Heckington Fen Solar Park should be sent to the Applicant, care of Ecotricity, by email to heckingtonfensolar@ecotricity.co.uk or by post to FREEPOST ECOTRICITY SOLAR PARK.

12. Any response or representation in respect of the proposed DCO must (i) be received by the Applicant no later than 1 September 2022, (ii) be made in writing (email or letter format), (iii) state the grounds of the response or representation, (iv) indicate who is making the response or representation, and (v) give an address to which correspondence relating to the response or representation may be sent.

13. Responses and other representations may be made public.