Chancery Lane, Londo - Planning Application For Development

OAKLANDS FARM SOLAR LIMITED
SECTION 153 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008 AND REGULATION 6 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING 
(CHANGES TO, AND REVOCATION OF, DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDERS) REGULATIONS 2011 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO MAKE A NON-MATERIAL CHANGE TO THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER: THE OAKLANDS FARM SOLAR PARK ORDER 2025 (SI 2025/739) AS CORRECTED BY THE OAKLANDS FARM SOLAR PARK (CORRECTION) ORDER 2025 (SI 2025/1070)

Notice is hereby given that an application has been made by Oaklands Farm Solar Limited (company number 12915335) of registered office 22 Chancery Lane, London, England, WC2A 1LS (the “Applicant”) to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to make a non-material change to the Oaklands Farm Solar Park Order 2025 as corrected by The Oaklands Farm Solar Park (Correction) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025 no. 1070) (the “Order”) under the Planning Act 2008 (the “NMC Application”).

The Order includes provision authorising the construction, operation and decommissioning of an energy generating facility comprising ground mounted solar photovoltaic arrays and an on-site substation, together with an associated Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) facility and supporting infrastructure including a below ground electrical connection to the National Grid substation at the former Drakelow Power Station (the “Scheme”). The Applicant seeks to make changes to seven distinct elements of the Proposed Development amending the design parameters set out in table 4.2 of Chapter 4 of the Environmental Statement and Appendix B of the Design Statement as well as amending the work plans (the “NMCs”). These are summarised below.

Change 1 - Work No. 1 (a ground mounted solar photovoltaic generating station)
In preparing the detailed design of the solar array, the Applicant has been able to optimise the design by using newer technology. This primarily means the available land can be more effectively utilised to lay out the equipment to maximise efficiency and solar capacity. To realise these optimisations, the Applicant proposes to slightly expand the footprint of work no. 1 in specific areas with three areas removed from work no. 1. The extension of the parameter area for work no. 1 is minimal, resulting in an overall net increase of 3.4% in the parameter area for work no. 1 and the change is therefore non-material.

Change 2 - Solar PV Panels
In certain locations the maximum height of the solar panels is to be changed from 2.7m to 3m above ground level (“AGL”). The limited areas of where panel heights will be allowed up to 3m AGL is shown in the Solar Panel Heights Parameter Plan at Appendix I of the Design Statement. 

This is to allow for undulations in the topography of the Site where the dips and slopes of the Site results in the solar panels technically exceeding the existing parameters whilst ensuring a continuous row of panels rather than creating stepped changes in heights. Similarly, the minimum height of the solar panels is to be changed from 0.8m to 0.5m AGL where necessary to accommodate the undulations in the topography of the Site where the dips and slopes. 

It is also proposed that the maximum depth of the pile foundations is increased from 2m to 3m and that the mounting rack material of aluminium or stainless steel is amended to allow for the use of galvanised steel.

Change 3 - MV Transformer Stations
The current design parameters allow for up to 70 small or large transformer station units to be installed within work area no. 1 with the maximum dimensions of the larger transformer units being 3m x 4.1m x 2.9m (height, length, width). The change seeks to add a separate option for a larger “Skid” MV transformer station with a dimension of 3m x 7.5m x 3m (height, length, width) and a maximum limit of up to 30 transformer stations. 

The Proposed Development would only allow up to 70 smaller or larger compact transformer stations units or combination thereof, or up to 30 Skid transformer stations. The foundations for the Skid transformer stations would include comprise a mix of concrete and compacted sand and gravel to a depth of up to 1.5m.

Change 4 - Substation
The original parameters allowed for a maximum dimension of 7.2m x 5.3m x 3.7m (length, height, width) for the substation transformer but does not specify if this comprises the fully assembled transformer with the additional electrical paraphernalia attached to the main body of the transformer. Therefore, for clarity and avoidance of doubt the parameter is now proposed to be 8.3m x 6m x 5m (length, height, width) which represents the maximum parameters of the substation transformer fully assembled, including its additional electrical paraphernalia. The height of the assembled transformer remains below the tallest part of the substation which is the Overhead Busbar at a height of 7.4m. In addition, the concrete blast wall is to be increased from 5.2m in height to 6.3m for safety reasons. In addition, the foundation depths of the Welfare Unit and Storage area are to increase from 0.1 to 0.6m and the foundation depth of the statcom will increase from 50m to 1m.

Change 5 - Jointing Bays
Following detailed design and input from the chosen grid connection provider, it is considered optimal to increase the depth and width of the
jointing bays from 12m x 2m x 2.6m (length, depth, width) to 12m x 4m x 3m (length, depth, width). This will enable a more efficient method
of installation.

Change 6 - Onsite Cabling
Work no. 7 includes three aspects on onsite cabling:
• between battery containers, Power Conversion System (PCS) units, and from PCS to transformers;
• between the transformer stations and the Proposed Development substation; and
• between PV modules and inverters and from inverters to transformers.

The parameters allowed for a minimum cable depth of 0.9m and a maximum cable trench dimension of 1.5m wide and 1.2m deep. It is now proposed that the minimum cable depth would be 0.7m and the maximum cable trench dimension would be 1.8m wide and 1.2m deep.

In exceptional circumstances, for example to cross features such as other cables, the trench depth will be specific to engineering requirements.

Change 7 - Permanent Internal Access Tracks Currently the parameters allow for a permanent access track of 3.5 - 6.0m wide made up of 200mm of type 1 compacted stone/gravel with a geotextile membrane, or mown grass corridor. It is now proposed that this is amended to allow up to 400mm of compacted stone/gravel, such as type 1/6F5, with a geotextile membrane, or mown grass corridor. It should be noted that the additional 200mm of the material would be used to build up the road as opposed to requiring further excavation.

Summary
The NMCs proposed to the Order by the Applicant are entirely necessary for the reasons set out above and within the NMC Application.
None of the NMCs will give rise to any materially new or materially different environmental effects to those originally assessed as part of the application for the Order, nor would they require additional compulsory acquisition of land, nor would they have new or different effects on local residents or business or any additional implications in respect of Habitats Regulation Assessment; therefore, the proposed changes are non-material in nature.

Copies of the Application Documents
A copy of the NMC Application and its accompanying documents are available for inspection, free of charge, via the Planning Inspectorate’s website at the below address until at least the 14th July 2026. https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010122/documents 

If you require a hard copy of the NMC Application and its accompanying documents (for example because you do not have access to a computer and are unable to view the documents on the Planning Inspectorates website), you can request hard copies by contacting info.oaklands-solarfarm@baywa-re.co.uk or 0800 652 5267. A hard copy is available free of charge.

Making a representation on the Application
Any person may make representations on the Application to the Secretary of State. The period for making representations starts on 5th June 2026 and will end at 23:59 on 14th July 2026. Any person making a representation about the NMC Application must provide this either

a. by email to: OaklandsFarmSolar@planninginspectorate.gov.uk, or
b. in writing to: National Infrastructure Planning, the Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN.

Please quote reference EN010122 on any correspondence. Consultation responses will be published on the relevant project page of the National Infrastructure Planning website.

Please note that representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 23:59 on 14th July 2026.

OAKLANDS FARM SOLAR LIMITED