Frodsham - Compulsory Land Acquisition for Solar Farm and Battery Storage Development

NOTICE OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION UNDER SECTION 134(7) OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

THE FRODSHAM SOLAR FARM ORDER 2026

NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION

The above Order, made under the Planning Act 2008 by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and published on 27 October 2026, includes provision authorising the compulsory acquisition of land, of existing rights over land, and of a right over land by creating a new right over it and imposing restrictive covenants, as described in Schedule 1.

The Order includes provision authorising the acquisition for the purpose of the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Frodsham Solar Farm (defined in article 2 of the Order as the "authorised development") comprising a solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating facility, with a capacity exceeding 100 megawatts (MW), and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). It also includes infrastructure for connection to the local electricity distribution network, a private wire electricity connection that would enable local businesses to utilise the renewable energy generated and areas of landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

The authorised development is located to the north of Frodsham Centre within the administrative area of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

A copy of the Order, the Secretary of State’s Decision Letter and Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report have been deposited at the location listed below and may be inspected at all reasonable hours during the viewing times listed below:

A copy of the Order, together with copies of the Secretary of State’s Decision Letter, the Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report as well as the Statement of Reasons, the Book of Reference and the Land Plans (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) are available to view online free of charge through the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010153

A link to these documents can also be found on Frodsham Solar Limited’s website: www.frodshamsolar.com

A hard copy of the Order can also be made available on request, by contacting Frodsham Solar Limited by email at: info@frodshamsolar.co.uk, or by phone at: 0808 175 0004.

A person aggrieved by the Order may challenge the Order only in accordance with section 118 of the Planning Act 2008, which stipulates that any proceeding must be brought by filing a claim form for judicial review before the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day after the day on which the Order was published (or, if later, the day on which the statement of reasons for making the Order is published).

Once the provision in the Order authorising compulsory acquisition comes into force, Frodsham Solar Limited may acquire any of the land (including any rights in or over land) or any rights or impose restrictive covenants described in Schedule 1 below by executing a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981. A statement on the effect of Parts 2 and 3 of that Act is set out in Schedule 2.

Any person who would be entitled to claim compensation in respect of any interest in land (or right over land) is invited to give Frodsham Solar Limited at FAO UK Development, Frodsham Solar Limited, 70 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8BE, United Kingdom information about the person’s name, address and interest in land, using a prescribed form. The prescribed form is set out in Schedule 3.

SCHEDULE 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND, EXISTING RIGHTS AND NEW RIGHTS

The Order land (as defined in article 2 of the Order) is shown coloured pink and coloured blue on the Land and Crown Land Plans and a short textual description of each numbered plot (as identified on the Land and Crown Land Plans) is included in the Book of Reference. The Order land is required to enable the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the authorised development. This notice relates to the Order land as is shown coloured pink and coloured blue on the Land and Crown Land Plans as shown on the Planning Inspectorate’s website:

https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-001021-EN010153-000716-2.2%20Land%20and%20Crown%20Land%20Plans%20P05.pdf

In respect of the Order land, the Order authorises Frodsham Solar Limited to:

a) acquire so much of the Order land as is specified by article 21 (compulsory acquisition of land) of the Order as is required for the authorised development or to facilitate it, or as is incidental to it as well as use any land so acquired for the purposes of authorised by the Order or any other purpose in connection with or ancillary to the undertaking;

b) acquire such rights over the Order land, by creating them as well as by acquiring rights already in existence, and impose restrictions affecting part of the Order land, as is authorised by article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights) of the Order;

c) the case of Order land specified in column 1 of Schedule 7 (land in which only new rights etc. may be acquired) to the Order, acquire and/or extinguish rights and benefit of existing restrictive covenants over that land as well as the creation and acquisition of new rights and imposition of restrictive covenants for the purposes specified in column 2 of that Schedule; and

d) acquire so much of, or such rights in, the subsoil of or the airspace over the Order land as is authorised by article 26 (acquisition of subsoil or airspace only) of the Order.

In respect of the Order land, the Order includes powers to suspend or extinguish any easements and private rights in land, or to extinguish any private rights under article 24 (private rights) and article 27 (power to override easements and other rights) of the Order.

Frodsham Solar Limited may temporarily use the Order land during the construction of the authorised development pursuant to article 30 of the Order and may temporarily use the Order land to maintain the authorised development pursuant to article 31 of the Order.

SCHEDULE 2

STATEMENT OF EFFECT OF PARTS 2 AND 3 OF THE COMPULSORY PURCHASE (VESTING DECLARATIONS) ACT 1981

Power to execute a general vesting declaration

1. Once the provision in The Frodsham Solar Farm Order 2026 which authorises compulsory acquisition comes into force, the acquiring authority (being Frodsham Solar Limited, or in respect of land within the limits of deviation for Work No. 4A(iii) of The Frodsham Solar Farm Order 2026, Frodsham Solar Limited or SP Manweb PLC), may acquire any of the land (including any existing rights and / or new rights) described in Schedule 1 above by executing a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 ("the Act"). This has the effect, subject to paragraphs 3 and 5 below, of vesting the land in the acquiring authority at the end of the period specified in paragraph 2 below.

Notices concerning general vesting declaration

2. As soon as may be after the acquiring authority executes a general vesting declaration, it must serve notice of its execution on every occupier of the land specified in the declaration (except land where there is one of the tenancies described in paragraph 4) and on every person who gives it information relating to the land in pursuance of the invitation contained in the notice of the authorisation of the compulsory acquisition. When the service of notices of the general vesting declaration is completed, a period specified in the declaration, of not less than three months, will begin to run. On the first day after the end of this period the land described in the declaration will, subject to what is said in paragraphs 3 and 5, vest in the acquiring authority together with the right to enter on the land and take possession of it. Every person on whom the acquiring authority could have served a notice to treat in respect of his interest in the land (other than a tenant under one of the tenancies described in paragraph 4) will be entitled to claim compensation for the acquisition of his interest in the land, with interest on the compensation from the vesting date.

3. The "vesting date" for any land specified in a declaration will be the first day after the end of the period mentioned in paragraph 2 above, unless a counter-notice is served under Schedule A1 to the Act within that period. In such circumstances, the vesting date for the land which is the subject of the counter-notice will be determined in accordance with Schedule A1.

Modifications with respect to certain tenancies

4. In the case of certain tenancies, the position stated above is subject to modifications. The modifications apply where the tenancy is either a "minor tenancy", i.e. a tenancy for a year or a yearly tenancy or a lesser interest, or "a long tenancy which is about to expire". The latter expression means a tenancy granted for an interest greater than a minor tenancy but having on the vesting date a period still to run which is not more than the period specified in the declaration for this purpose (which must be more than a year). In calculating how long a tenancy has still to run, where any option to renew or to terminate it is available to either party, it shall be assumed that the landlord will take every opportunity open to him to terminate the tenancy while the tenant will use every opportunity to retain or renew his interest.

5. The modifications are that the acquiring authority may not exercise the right of entry referred to in paragraph 2 in respect of land subject to a tenancy described in paragraph 4 unless it first serves notice to treat in respect of the tenancy and then serves every occupier of the land with a notice of its intention to enter and take possession after the period (not less than three months from the service of the notice) specified in the notice. The right of entry will be exercisable at the end of that period. The vesting of the land will be subject to the tenancy until the end of that period or until the tenancy comes to an end, whichever happens first.

SCHEDULE 3

FORM FOR GIVING INFORMATION

THE FRODSHAM SOLAR FARM ORDER 2026

To: UK Development, Frodsham Solar Limited, 70 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8BE, United Kingdom

Email: info@frodshamsolar.co.uk

Reference [plot number(s) and address of land/property]:

[I] [We] (delete as applicable) being [a person] [persons] (delete as applicable) who, if a general vesting declaration were executed under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 in respect of all the land comprised in the order cited above in respect of which notice to treat has not been given, would be entitled to claim compensation in respect of [all] [part of] (delete as applicable) that land, give you the following information, pursuant to section 134(7)(cza) of the Planning Act 2008.

1. Name and address of informant(s) (see explanatory note (i) below)

....................................................................................................

....................................................................................................

2. Land in which an interest is held by informant(s) (see explanatory note (ii) below)

....................................................................................................

....................................................................................................

3. Nature of interest (see explanatory note (iii) below)

....................................................................................................

....................................................................................................

Signed........... [on behalf of] ..............................................................................

Date.................................

(i) In the case of a joint interest insert the names and addresses of all the informants.

(ii) The land should be described concisely.

(iii) If the interest is leasehold, the date of commencement and length of term should be given. If the land is subject to a mortgage or other incumbrance, details should be given, e.g. name of building society and roll number.

Lucas Pegoraro

Country Head of UK

Joe Chambers

UK Development Lead

For and on behalf of Frodsham Solar Limited

Date: 05 November 2026

Frodsham Solar Limited, its subsidiaries and service providers will process your personal information for the purpose of implementing The Frodsham Solar Farm Order 2026, including its compulsory acquisition powers, and to comply with related government guidelines. Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. To find out more about how Frodsham Solar Limited handles personal data please visit: https://www.frodshamsolar.co.uk/privacy-policy/