Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State has accepted an application by Tillbridge Solar Limited (company number 12887594) of 111 Park Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, W1K 7JF (“the Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008 (“the Application”). The Application (Reference EN010142) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State c/o the Planning Inspectorate on 10 April 2024 and was accepted on 08 May 2024.

Summary of the Project

The Tillbridge Solar Project (the Scheme) will comprise the construction, operation (including maintenance), and decommissioning of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays.

The Scheme will also include associated development to support the solar PV arrays. The Scheme is made up of the Principal Site, the Cable Route Corridor and works to the existing National Grid Cottam Substation. The Principal Site comprises the solar PV arrays, electrical substations, grid balancing infrastructure, cabling and areas for landscaping and ecological enhancement.

The associated development element of the Scheme includes, but is not limited to, access provision; a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), to support the operation of the ground mounted solar PV arrays; the development of on-site substations; underground cabling between the different areas of solar PV arrays; and areas of landscaping and biodiversity enhancement.

The Scheme also includes a 400kV underground Cable Route Corridor of approximately 18.5km in length connecting the Principal Site to the National Electricity Transmission System (NETS) at the existing National Grid Cottam Substation. The Scheme will export and import electricity to the NETS.

The Principal Site is situated to the east and south-east of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire and lies entirely within the administrative boundary of West Lindsey District Council (within Lincolnshire County Council) and covers an area of approximately 1,350 ha. The Cable Route Corridor runs from the Principal Site in a south westerly direction across West Lindsey District Council (within Lincolnshire County Council) and the River Trent into the administrative area of Bassetlaw District Council (within Nottinghamshire County Council) and covers an area of approximately 320 ha.

A map showing the location of the Scheme can be viewed on the National Infrastructure Planning website at the following link:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010142/EN010142-000221-2.1%20Location%20Plan.pdf

Development consent is required to the extent that development is or forms part of a nationally significant infrastructure project pursuant to sections 14(1)(a) and 15(1) and (2) of the Planning Act 2008, as an onshore generating station in England with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts (“MW”). It is for this reason that the project falls within the remit of the Secretary of State for decision-making.

The Development Consent Order would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily. The Development Consent Order would also authorise the construction of temporary and permanent accesses to the Scheme, the temporary stopping up or diversion of public rights of way, street works and highway works, and the application and disapplication of certain legislation.

Environmental Impact Assessment Development:

The proposed works are environmental impact assessment (“EIA”) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 and accordingly an environmental statement (“ES”) accompanies the Application.

Application form and accompanying documents:

The application form and the accompanying documents, plans and ES and non-technical summary of the ES (“Application Documents”) can be viewed and downloaded free of charge online on the Tillbridge Solar Project page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website under the documents tab: https://national-infrastructure consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010142/documents

The Application Documents will be available to view online at least until the Secretary of State makes their decision whether or not to grant the Development Consent Order.

If you require a copy of the Application Documents to be supplied on a USB stick, this can be provided free of charge (one device per household). Please use the contact details for the Applicant provided in this notice to request for this to be provided.

The application documents can also be viewed electronically at the following locations from 13 June 2024 until at least the end of the Relevant Representation period at 11.59pm on 1 August 2024.

*Please note that the opening hours of each location are subject to change. Please check and confirm the opening times with the location if you are planning to visit.

If you have any questions about the Application Documents, you can email info@tillbridgesolar.com, write to FREEPOST TILLBRIDGE SOLAR (please note, no stamp is required), or call 0800 046 9643.

The Application Documents can be supplied in hard copy format on request at a cost of £5,000. For any bespoke or hard copy document requests (for example in large print, audio or braille formats) please contact the Applicant using the contact details in this notice. Copies of individual documents are also available on request and a reasonable copying charge may apply.

Representations:

The period in which relevant representations are invited to be made to the Planning Inspectorate is between 20 June and 1 August 2024. Any representations (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application) must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form which can be accessed and completed online by following the relevant link on the Planning Inspectorate webpage:

https://national-infrastructure consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010142/register/register-have-your say

If you require guidance on, or other methods of, obtaining and completing a Planning Inspectorate Registration and Relevant Representation Form, please telephone the Planning Inspectorate on 0303 444 5000 or e-mail tillbridgesolarproject@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Notice 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination, provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation and can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects advice-note-eight-overview-of-the-nationally-significant-infrastructure-planning-process-for members/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-advice-note-82-how-to-register-to participate-in-an-examination

Please note that representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 11.59pm on 1 August 2024.

It should be noted that personal data, such as the name of persons over 18, will be published alongside a representation. If you do not wish personal data to be made publicly available, you should state why when submitting the representation. If necessary, the Planning Inspectorate will publish the representations with your name and personal data redacted. Representations will be made public and will be subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s privacy policy at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning inspectorate-privacy-notice