Frodsham Marsh, Frodsham - Proposed Application For A New Solar Energy Generation Station

Frodsham Solar
Section 48 of the Planning Act 2008

Notice publicising a proposed application for a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) to authorise a new solar energy generation station and an associated on-site Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) (“Frodsham Solar”) on land at Frodsham Marsh, Frodsham, Cheshire West and Chester.

Regulation 4 Infrastructure Planning (Applications Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009.

1. Notice is hereby given that Frodsham Solar Limited (Company Number 14432433), whose registered office is 70 St Mary Axe, London, United Kingdom, EC3A 8BE (“the Applicant”), proposes to apply to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for the above-mentioned Development Consent Order (the “Application”).

2. The proposed design for Frodsham Solar would enable the generation of approximately 130 megawatts (MW) of electricity, as well as the storage of approximately 100 MW of electricity in a BESS. Frodsham Solar also includes the associated infrastructure for connection to the local electricity distribution network, as well as a private wire connection, that would enable local businesses to utilise electricity generated.

3. The proposed DCO will, among other things, authorise:

• Construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a solar PV electricity generating facility with a capacity of over 50 MW;

• Associated and/or ancillary works including construction of a substation and connection to the SP Energy Networks Frodsham substation, landscaping, biodiversity areas, access tracks, construction facilities, and the creation of permissive paths;

• The permanent and/or temporary compulsory acquisition (if required) of land and/or rights;

• The overriding of easements and other rights over or affecting land;

• The application and/or disapplication of legislation relating to Frodsham Solar; and

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

4. The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.

This means that the proposed works involved constitute development for which an EIA is required and the proposed application for a DCO will therefore be accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES).The Environmental Statement will provide a detailed description of Frodsham Solar and its likely significant environmental impacts. Information compiled to date about Frodsham Solar’s likely significant effects will be set out in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and will also be made available for consultation.

Accessing consultation documents

5. The Applicant is undertaking a phase of consultation on the proposals for Frodsham Solar between Thursday 07 November and Thursday 19 December 2024.

6. The consultation materials comprise a PEIR, a Non-Technical Summary of the PEIR, a Community Consultation Leaflet which explains the consultation process and summarises the details of Frodsham Solar including plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed DCO, and a Feedback Form inviting comments.

7. These consultation materials will be available free-of-charge on the Applicant’s website in the document library (www.frodshamsolar.co.uk) to read, download and print between Thursday 07 November and Thursday 19 December 2024.

8. Consultation materials will also be provided in paper copy or on USB by request to the Applicant (contact details provided below). Please note that a reasonable charge up to £500 may apply to providing printed copies of the PEIR.

9. Consultation materials can also be made available by request in alterative formats, such as large print, translated language, audio or braille, by contacting the Applicant using the details below.

10. Copies of consultation materials (excluding the PEIR) will also be available to view in person between Thursday 07 November and Thursday 19 December 2024 at the following public venues in the vicinity of Frodsham Solar. Please note that opening times have been checked, but they are dependent on the venue itself and may be subject to change.

11. The Applicant will host public information events to provide opportunities to view the relevant documentation and speak with members of the project team. The details of the events are as follows:

12. These public information events offer an opportunity to find out more about the Applicant’s updated proposals.

Attendees do not need to register in advance to attend in-person events.

13. Attendees can register to attend the online community webinar by visiting the Applicant’s website or contacting the Applicant directly.

Responding to the consultation

14. Feedback can be provided through the Applicant’s website (www.frodshamsolar.co.uk),. where an online feedback form will be clearly linked.

15. Hardcopy feedback forms will be available to collect at the aforementioned public information events and public venues, to download from the Applicant’s website, and can be issued upon request to the contact details below.

Completed feedback forms can be emailed or posted back to the Applicant at the details provided below or submitted at the public information events.

16. Any written responses can be sent to the Applicant by email to info@frodshamsolar.co.uk or by post to FREEPOST FRODSHAM SOLAR.

17. Any response or representation in respect of the proposed DCO must (i) be received by the Applicant on or before Thursday 19 December 2024, (ii) be made in writing,

(iii) state the grounds of the response or representation, and

(iv) indicate who is making the response or representation.

18. The Applicant will consider and have regard to all responses received during this time before submitting its application for a DCO. Responses and representations will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Planning Inspectorate when deciding whether the Application can be accepted for examination.

Therefore, in providing any comment, it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report and may be publicly available.

19. Personal details will be held securely and solely for purposes in connection with the statutory consultation, DCO process and further development of Frodsham Solar. Outside of these purposes the Applicant may be required to provide personal details if the Planning Inspectorate requests original responses. Otherwise, personal details will not be disclosed to any third parties. For further details please see the Applicant’s Privacy Policy on their website (www.frodshamsolar.co.uk).

A copy of the privacy policy can be provided upon request at the contact details below.

Contacting the Applicant

20. The Applicant can be contacted by:

• Emailing: info@frodshamsolar.co.uk

• Writing to: FREEPOST FRODSHAM SOLAR

• Calling: 0808 175 4004 (open 09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday. A voicemail service will operate for out of office hours)