Isle of Anglesey - Application For A Development Consent Order For The Maen Hir Solar Farm And Energy Storage Project

SECTION 48 PLANNING ACT 2008

REGULATION 4 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009

REGULATION 13 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2017

NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER FOR THE MAEN HIR SOLAR FARM AND ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT

Notice is hereby given that Lightsource SPV 204 Limited (company number 08943830) of 7th Floor 33 Holborn, London, United Kingdom, EC1N 2HU (“the Applicant”) proposes to make an application (“the Application”) to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) for a development consent order (“DCO”) in respect of Prosiect Maen Hir (“the Project”).

The Project comprises the construction, operation and maintenance and decommissioning of a solar electricity generating station with a capacity of over 350 MW (megawatts) alternating current (AC), associated development including a battery energy storage system, a community solar project, project substation and ancillary infrastructure. The Project will be connecting to a new National Grid Electricity Transmission Substation, which is anticipated to be consented separately by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc.

The Project comprises three linked parcels, being located in the area near Rhosgoch and Bodewryd (known as “Maen Hir North”), around the northern and eastern periphery of Llyn Alaw (known as “Maen Hir Central”) and to the north-east and south-east of Llannerch-y-medd (known as “Maen Hir South A and B”), with a grid connection corridor connecting these parcels in north Anglesey, within the administrative area of the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Because the Project has an anticipated generation capacity which exceeds 350MW it is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008.

The proposed DCO will, among other things, authorise:

• construction, operation and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar PV electricity generating facility;

• associated development and ancillary works including the construction of a BESS; substations, cabling to connect to the Project Substation, cabling to connect to a new National Grid Substation; Community Solar Project; the creation of environmental mitigation and enhancement areas; permissive paths; access tracks; construction compounds;

• alterations to streets, including the creation and modification of temporary and permanent accesses, the temporary removal of street furniture, improvements to public rights of way and any necessary temporary diversion and/or temporary closures up of public rights of way;

• the permanent compulsory acquisition and temporary possession of land and/or rights;

• the overriding of easements and other rights over or affecting land as well as the creation of restrictions where necessary;

• the application and/or disapplication of legislation including, amongst other things, legislation relating to compulsory purchase and landlord and tenant matters; and

• such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, licenses, property rights, permits and consents as are necessary and/or convenient for the purposes of the Project.

The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. As a result, the Applicant is required to carry out an EIA and submit an Environmental Statement (ES) as part of the Application.

The ES will provide a detailed description of the Project and information about its likely significant effects on the environment.

Information currently available about the preliminary likely significant environmental effects of the Project is set out in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and summarised in a nontechnical summary (PEIR NTS) that forms part of the consultation material.

Consultation details

Consultation on the Project will take place from 02 October 2024 to 23:59 on 15 November 2024 (“the Consultation Period”).

The consultation materials comprise documents, plans and maps which show the nature and location of the Project and include:

• Consultation Leaflet
• Project Information Booklet
• Consultation Feedback Forms
• Frequently Asked Question document
• PEIR
• PEIR NTS
• Maps and plans of the Project
• Draft Collaborative Benefits Report
• Draft Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan
• Document Navigation Booklet
• Event Display Panels
• Posters
• Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC).

From 02 October 2024 all consultation materials will be available to download free of charge from the Project webpages: www.lightsourcebp.com/maenhir-cymraeg (Welsh) and www.lightsourcebp.com/maenhir-english (English) and will be kept online until at least 15 November 2024. All the consultation documents noted above will be available in Welsh and English with the exception of the PEIR, maps and plans, the Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan, which are available in English.

Document deposit locations

Hard copies of all consultation materials will be available for inspection during the consultation period until at least 15 November 2024 free of charge at the following document deposit locations.

Please note that only an electronic copy of the PEIR will be available at the Anglesey Business Centre

*Opening times of these organisations are decided by them and may be subject to change.

Hard copies of consultation materials may be requested from the Applicant during the Consultation Period using the email address, postal address or telephone numbers provided in this notice.

Requests for consultation materials to meet specific requirements (such as large print or audio for those with visual impairments or in an alternative language for those who do not speak Welsh or English as their first language) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Requests for multiple copies of these documents, or the PEIR and its appendices will be considered on a case by case basis and a reasonable charge may apply to cover printing and postage costs.

The cost for a hard copy of all of the Consultation Materials is up to £500. Digital copies of the consultation materials can be provided on USB memory stick as PDF files on request, for a small charge to cover production and postage costs.

Consultation events

The Applicant is holding six in person consultation events and two online webinars at the following dates, times and locations:

Paper copies of all consultation materials (including the SoCC) will be available for inspection at the in-person events listed above, while members of the project team will be available to discuss the Project and answer any questions.

Where any public consultation event is cancelled or rearranged for any reason, as much notice as possible will be given. Notice of any alternative arrangements (if any are reasonably considered necessary by the Applicant) will be given as soon as possible after the cancellation or rearrangement is made. This may include alternative dates, venues and/or arrangements for the submission of consultation responses. The Applicant will inform you of any cancellations or rearrangements via methods such as the Project’s website and localised advertising.

Feedback

Any person may comment on the Project or otherwise respond to the consultation. Responses must be received by 23:59 on 15 November 2024. Responses received after this time may not be considered.

When providing your response, please include your name and address or, if you would prefer your comments to be anonymous, your postcode only. Please also confirm the nature of your interest in the Project.

All responses must be made in writing by:

a. Completing the online feedback form located on the Welsh and English versions of the Project webpages:

i.www.lightsourcebp.com/maenhir-cymraeg (Welsh)

ii. www.lightsourcebp.com/maenhir-english (English)

b. Attending a consultation event and completing a paper consultation feedback form

c. Obtaining and completing a paper copy of the consultation feedback form, which can be returned via FREEPOST MAEN HIR PROJECT

d. Alternatively, feedback can be sent to us by:

i. Emailing: maenhir@lightsourcebp.com
ii .Writing to us: FREEPOST MAEN HIR PROJECT