East Riding of Yorkshire - East Yorkshire Solar Farm Development Consent Order

EAST YORKSHIRE SOLAR FARM
SECTIONS 91, 92 and 93 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008
RULE 13(6) OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (EXAMINATION PROCEDURE) RULES 2010
NOTICE OF HEARINGS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED EAST YORKSHIRE SOLAR FARM DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER
PLANNING INSPECTORATE REFERENCE: EN010143

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at the dates, times and places set out below, a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing, an Open Floor Hearing and an Issue Specific Hearing will be held by the Examining Authority (appointed by the Secretary of State) for the examination of the application made by East Yorkshire Solar Farm Limited (company number 14103404) of Unit 5E, Park Farm, Arundel, BN18 0AG (“the Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (“the Application”).

The Application was made by the Applicant on 21 November 2023 and accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State for examination on 19 December 2023.

East Yorkshire Solar Farm
East Yorkshire Solar Farm (“the Scheme”) comprises the construction and operation (including maintenance) and decommissioning of a solar farm consisting of ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) arrays which will generate more than 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity, together with underground cabling, onsite substations, landscaping and biodiversity enhancement, and grid connection infrastructure connecting to the National Grid Drax Substation.

The Scheme is located on land close to the hamlets and villages of Gribthorpe, Spaldington, Brind, Willitoft, Wressle, Newsholme, Brackenholme, Barmby on the Marsh, and Long Drax within the administrative areas of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Council.

A map showing the location of the Scheme can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme at the following link: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010143/EN010143-000466-2.6%20 Location%20Plan.pdf

Development consent is required to the extent that development is or forms part of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) pursuant to sections 14(1)(a), 15(1) and 15(2) of the Planning Act 2008, as an onshore generating station located in England with a capacity exceeding 50 MW. It is for this reason that the Scheme falls within the remit of the Secretary of State’s decision-making powers.

The DCO, if granted, would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily. The DCO would also authorise alterations to the layout of streets, the construction of accesses to the Scheme, the temporary stopping up or management of the public rights of way, street works, removal of hedgerows, and the application and disapplication of legislation.

Hearings
The Examining Authority issued a letter dated 11 June 2024 giving notice of the Hearings detailed in the table below, which will be held as blended events on Tuesday 9 July 2024 and Wednesday 10 July 2024.

If you wish to attend and/or participate in the above Hearings, you must register by completing the Planning Inspectorate’s event participation form on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme. Please contact the Planning Inspectorate using the contact details at the bottom of this notice if you require any support or assistance to attend the Hearings, either virtually or in person.

If you simply wish to observe the Hearings virtually then you do not need to register as you will be able to watch a livestream of the event.

A link to a livestream for the Hearings will be made available on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme shortly before each Hearing is due to open. The physical venue referred to above will also be open to the public.

Virtual Registration - All virtual participants will be required to take part in a registration process before each Hearing. This will be held with the Planning Inspectorate before the start of the Hearing. This gives time for the Planning Inspectorate to admit everyone to the Hearing.

Cancellation Of Hearings - If a Hearing is no longer required, reasonable notice will be provided of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to cancel it by the posting of a banner on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme.

Any Hearings further to that listed will be advertised by one or more further notices. In accordance with Rule 13(3) of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010, as amended, the Planning Inspectorate will also notify interested parties (and where relevant, affected persons) of the date, time and place fixed for each hearing.

For more information on the Hearings, the examination of the Application and full timetable (and any amendments to it), including how and when to register to speak at the Hearings and how and when to make written submissions, please contact the Planning Inspectorate using the details at the bottom of this notice, or visit its website where procedural decisions and notice of hearings are available to download: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010143

It should be noted that the Hearings will be recorded, and the recording will be published on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme as soon as practicable after each Hearing has taken place.

Viewing the Application Documents

The application form and its accompanying documents, plans and maps, Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary, and the draft DCO are available to view electronically and download, free of charge, under the “Documents” tab on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010143

All further documents submitted in the course of the examination of the Application will also be published in the Examination Library which can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage for the Scheme under the “Documents” tab. The Examination Library is updated regularly throughout the examination.

The Application documents can also be viewed electronically at the venues listed below. For a full list of internet-enabled libraries in your area please contact your local authority. If you have difficulty accessing any documentation, please contact the Planning Inspectorate’s Case Team using the details provided at the end of this notice.

* Please contact the venues in advance to arrange an appointment for computer access to view the documents electronically. 

The details of the opening hours above are correct at the time of this notice, however, are subject to change and it is recommended that you contact the library in advance.

The complete set of Application documents can be made available in hard copy format on request at a cost of £3,000. Copies of individual documents are also available on request and a reasonable printing charge may apply. The Applicant will also consider any reasonable requests for bespoke or hard copy document formats (for example in large print, audio or braille formats). On request, an electronic copy of the Application documents can be supplied free of charge on a USB memory stick. In relation to any request, please contact the Applicant using the contact details set out at the end of this notice.

Further Information
Further information about the Application, the Hearings, how to take part in the examination and any other matters covered in this notice may be obtained from the Planning Inspectorate or the Applicant using the following contact details: