Isle of Anglesey - Proposed Maen Hir Solar Farm And Energy Storage Project

PROPOSED MAEN HIR SOLAR FARM AND ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT
SECTION 47(6) PLANNING ACT 2008
NOTICE PUBLICISING STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Notice is hereby given that Lightsource SPV 204 Limited (company number 08943830) of 7th Floor 33 Holborn, London, United Kingdom, EC1N 2HU (“the Applicant”) has produced a Statement of Community Consultation (“SoCC”) in accordance with section 47 of the Planning Act 2008 in respect of Prosiect Maen Hir (“the Project”).

Consultation details

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 which requires the Applicant to submit an application for a development consent order (DCO) to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008.

The Statement of Community Consultation

Before submitting the application, the Applicant has a duty under Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008 to produce a SoCC setting out how it will consult the local community about the Project and how to take part in that consultation. The consultation process is designed to provide information about the Project and give local communities the opportunity to have their say and help develop the final design for the Project.

The Applicant must make the SoCC available for inspection by the public and publish this notice stating where and when the SoCC can be inspected. The Applicant must then carry out consultation in accordance with the SoCC.

This notice provides formal notification of the publication of the SoCC, including where and when it can be inspected, in accordance with Section 47(6) of the Planning Act 2008.

The SoCC can be viewed online in Welsh at www.lightsourcebp.com/ maenhir-cymraeg and in English at www.lightsourcebp.com/maenhirenglish.

To request a copy of the SoCC in electronic or printed format please call FREEPHONE 0808 175 6663 (Welsh) or 0808 175 6375 (English) or email maenhir@lightsourcebp.com. Requests for a copy of the SoCC can also be made in writing to FREEPOST MAEN HIR PROJECT.

Our consultation

Following the publication of this notice and the SoCC, the Applicant will undertake a statutory consultation and invite comments on the Project and its Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) from 02 October 2024 to 23:59 on 15 November 2024 (“the Consultation Period”).

The consultation materials include:

• Consultation leaflet
• Project Information Booklet
• Consultation feedback form
• Frequently Asked Question document
• PEIR
• PEIR Non-Technical Summary (NTS)
• Maps and plans of the Project
• Draft Collaborative Benefits Report
• Draft Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan
• Document Navigation Booklet
• Event Display Panels
• Posters
• 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.

Hard copies of all consultation materials can also be inspected free of charge at the document inspection venues listed below during the Consultation Period

*Opening times of these venues is as per advertised, but it is recommended that people visit the websites of the above locations to check for any unexpected closures prior to travel.

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 eight 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

Personal details will be held securely and only used for purposes in connection with the statutory consultation, the DCO process and further development of the Project. Outside of these purposes, the Applicant may be required to provide personal details if specifically requested as part of an Environmental Information Regulations request or if the Planning Inspectorate requests copies of the original responses.

For further details please see the Applicant’s Privacy Notice at: https://lightsourcebp.com/uk/project/maen-hir-solar-energy-storageenglish/.

A hard copy of the privacy notice can be requested using the e-mail address, postal address or telephone number provided below:

• Email: maenhir@lightsourcebp.com
• Post: FREEPOST MAEN HIR PROJECT
• Freephone: 0808 175 6663 (Welsh); 0808 175 6375(English) Lines are open between the hours of 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday