Dean Moor Solar Farm, Application For A Development Consent Order

Notice of Acceptance of an Application for a Development Consent Order (On Behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Dean Moor Solar Farm Development Consent Order

Planning Inspectorate Reference No: EN010155

Section 56 Planning Act 2008

Regulations 8 and 9 of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009

Regulation 16 of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

Notice is hereby given that the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (the Secretary of State)) has accepted an application made by FS Dean Moor Limited (registered company number: 14712545) of 127 Cheapside, London EC2V 6BT (the “Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) under the Planning Act 2008 (the “Application”). The Application (Reference No: EN010155) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State via the Planning Inspectorate on Wednesday 26 March 2025 and was accepted for examination on Tuesday 15 April 2025.

Summary of the Application

The DCO would authorise the Dean Moor Solar Farm (the Proposed Development), which comprises the construction, operation (including repowering) and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar photovoltaic (“PV”) energy generating station approximately 276.5ha of land, located between the villages of Gilgarran and Branthwaite in West Cumbria, which is situated within the administrative area of Cumberland Council.

The principal components of the Proposed Development include:

• Solar PV panels;

• Solar PV array mounting structures;

• Power Conversion System (“PCS”) in the form of inverters and transformers;

• Onsite collection infrastructure comprising Customer and DNO Substation buildings and external electrical equipment and ancillary infrastructure within a security fence;

• Grid connection infrastructure, including electrical cabling, and other associated works;

• Access from the highway and internal access tracks; and

• Green infrastructure including landscape and ecological mitigation areas.

A map showing the location of the Proposed Development can be viewed online via the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website at the following address: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010155/documents/?tab=2&location=2%2cLocation%20Plan.pdf

The Proposed Development is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under sections 14 and 15 of the Planning Act 2008, as it would have a generating capacity greater than 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This is an application made to the Planning Inspectorate and decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The DCO, if granted, would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land and interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently, temporarily or to extinguish or suspend rights in land. The Application also seeks authorisation to undertake highway works and other associated development. The Application also seeks a direction for deemed planning permission under section 90(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the parts of the Proposed Development that require it.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Due to its nature and size, the Proposed Development is classified as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 and an EIA has therefore been undertaken for the Proposed Development and the Application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement which reports on the EIA.

Application form and accompanying documents

The Application form and the accompanying documents and plans including the draft DCO, the Environmental Statement and Non-technical Summary (NTS) (“Application Documents”) can be viewed online, or downloaded free of charge, from the Dean Moor Solar Farm page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website under the Documents tab:

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010155/documents

The Application Documents will be available on the above website at least until the end of the relevant representation period.

On request, an electronic copy of the Application Documents can also be provided free of charge on a USB memory stick, which will be limited to one USB per household or business. To request a USB, please contact the Applicant using the contact details provided at the end of this notice.

The Application Documents can be supplied in hard copy format but there will be a reasonable charge for paper copies to cover the cost of printing, packaging and postage up to a charge of £1,500.00 (printing, packaging and postage for a complete set of Application Documents).

The Application Documents are available to view electronically or free of charge from Wednesday 30 April to Thursday 19 June 2025, at the locations and times set out below:

Document inspection venue | Opening hours (Subject to change and correct at the time of publication)*

Workington Library

Kenton's Lane, Workington, CA14 2ND

Tel: 01900 706170

• Monday 9.00am – 5.00pm

• Tuesday 9.00am – 6.00pm

• Wednesday 9.00am – 6.00pm

• Thursday 9.00am – 5.00pm

• Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm

• Saturday 9.00am – 2.00pm

• Sunday Closed

Frizington Library

Main Street, Frizington, CA26 3PF

Tel: 01946 505596

• Monday 2.00pm – 5.00pm

• Tuesday Closed

• Wednesday 2.00pm – 5.00pm

• Thursday Closed

• Friday 9.30am – 12.00pm

• Saturday Closed

• Sunday Closed

*Please note that opening hours are subject to change. Inspection venues may be closed on 5 May and 26 May as these are Bank Holidays. You are advised to call or use a venue in advance before attending to confirm availability and opening hours.

Making representations

Any person may make representation on the Application to the Secretary of State (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application) in writing or online as described below. Representations must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form, which is available via the relevant page on the Planning Inspectorate’s website (see web address below).

The Registration and Relevant Representation Form can be completed and submitted online by following the instructions: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010155

Representations in hard-copy should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Directorate, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN. If the Planning Inspectorate reference for the Application (EN010155) should be quoted in all correspondence.

Please note that Relevant Representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 11:59pm on Thursday 19 June 2025.

If you require guidance, or other methods to obtain and complete a copy of the form, the Planning Inspectorate can help. You can contact the Planning Inspectorate’s helpline on: 0303 444 5000 or email:

Email: enquiries@infrastructure.gov.uk

Please quote the name of the Application “Dean Moor Solar Farm” and reference number EN010155.

The Planning Inspectorate’s guidance Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice Note 8.2: How to have your say is also available from the Planning Inspectorate (via the contact details above) and provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation and about the examination process (and can be accessed via this link):

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/

Representations will be made public and will be subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s privacy policy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notices

Applicant’s contact details

Please contact the Applicant via the following contact details if you have any enquiries about any of the Application documents or to request a copy of the Application documents:

Post: FREEPOST: DEAN MOOR SOLAR FARM

Email: info@deanmoorsolarfarm.com

Telephone: 0800 041 8613 (9.00am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday)

FVS DEAN MOOR LIMITED