Eaton Socon / East Park Energy area – Planning Application for Major Solar + Battery + Grid-Connection Infrastructure

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER BY THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO) UNDER SECTION 56 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

EAST PARK ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER (APPLICATION REFERENCE: EN010141)

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 BSSL Cambsed 1 Ltd (registered company number: 13941201) of 16 Stratford Place, London, W1C 1BF (‘the Applicant’) for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Application’). The Application (application reference: EN010141) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State via the Planning Inspectorate on 3 October 2025 and accepted for Examination on 30 October 2025.

Summary of the Application

The infrastructure being proposed as part of the Application includes:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and mounting structures;

• A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which would comprise battery containers along with associated inverters and transformers;

• A new substation to control and operate the solar PV modules and BESS, and to increase the voltage to enable connection to the National Grid substation;

• Associated infrastructure including inverters, transformers, high voltage switchgear and control equipment, cabling, storage building, fencing, security, access tracks and landscaping and green infrastructure; and

• A 400 kV cable grid connection from the new East Park Substation to National Grid’s Eaton Socon Substation.

East Park Energy is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because it would be able to generate over 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Development consent is therefore required, with the DCO application to be decided by the Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008.

A map showing the location of the Project can be found in the Location, Order Limits and Grid Coordinate Plan (application document 2.1), which can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website at https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141/documents

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If granted, the DCO would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Project. The DCO would also authorise the construction of temporary and permanent accesses to the Project, the temporary stopping up or diversion of public rights of way, street works and highway works, and the application and disapplication of certain legislation.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The Project is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. An EIA has therefore been undertaken and the Application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement (application documents 6.1 – 6.4).

Copies of application documents

The application form and its accompanying documents, including the draft DCO, plans, the Environmental Statement and Non-technical summary (‘the Application Documents’) are available for inspection on the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website at https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141/documents

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The Application Documents will be available until at least the Secretary of State makes their decision on whether or not to grant the DCO.

Those without access to the internet at home may also inspect the Application Documents using publicly available computers at local libraries, including at the following locations:

Opening hours are subject to change at the discretion of the library. You may need to register as a member to access library computers.

The Application Documents can be supplied in paper copy at a cost of £0.35 per page (up to a maximum of £5,000 for the full suite of documents).

Making representations

Any person may make a representation on the Application to the Secretary of State (i.e. giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application) during the relevant representation period.

Any representation must give the grounds on which it is made and be submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate via a registration form.

By submitting a representation, you will become an Interested Person, which gives you the right to make further representations about the Application during the Examination process.

The period for making a relevant representation starts on Wednesday 26 November 2025 and will end at 23:59 on Wednesday 14 January 2026. The Registration and Relevant Representation form will be made available by the Planning Inspectorate once the registration/relevant representation period has opened on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141

To assist with registering as an interested party and making a relevant representation, the Planning Inspectorate has published detailed guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-how-to-register-to-have-your-say-and-make-a-relevant-representation

If you require further guidance, or need a paper copy of the registration/relevant representation form, you can request this from the Planning Inspectorate by telephoning 0303 444 5000 or emailing eastparkenergyproject@planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Please include the name of the Application and the reference number EN010141 in any correspondence with the Planning Inspectorate.

Any representations submitted to the Planning Inspectorate will be made public and published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Representations will be subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s privacy policy, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notices/customer-privacy-notice

Applicant contact details

If you have any questions about the Project or wish to request a paper copy of the Application Documents, you can email info@eastparkenergy.co.uk, telephone 0808 258 5991 or write to

Freepost EAST PARK ENERGY.