Section 48 Planning Act 2008. Regulation 4 of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 - East Pye Solar

SECTION 48 PLANNING ACT 2008
REGULATION 4 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING 
(APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009.

East Pye Solar

Notice publicising a proposed application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to construct, operate, maintain and decommission a solar photovoltaic (PV) generating station, with a generating capacity of more than 50 megawatts (MW) and associated infrastructure on land near Long Stratton in South Norfolk (East Pye Solar).

Notice is hereby given that East Pye Solar Limited (Company Number 14684189) of Unit 25.7 Coda Studies, 189 Munster Road, London, England, SW6 6AW (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 a Development Consent Order for East Pye Solar (the Scheme).

The Scheme will consist of:
• The solar array sites, which will include solar panels, conversion units and inverters, 132kV substations located within the solar array sites and up to two 400kV substations;
• A new National Grid substation operated by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc and associated electrical infrastructure along with other ancillary works required to facilitate the export of electricity from the Scheme to the national grid;
• The Scheme is anticipated to include works and relate to the existing 400kv overhead line and associated pylon(s), for example the relocation/moving of the existing pylon(s), new pylons, temporary replacement pylon(s) and restringing of the overhead line;
• A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS);
• A Cable Route Corridor for the underground electricity cables to run between the solar array sites to connect to the BESS and National Grid substation;
• Associated infrastructure, mitigation and enhancement measures and other ancillary works, for example, enclosures and fencing, security, drainage, earthworks, highways and access works, mitigation and enhancement measures, temporary works compounds and work sites.

The Scheme will cover a combined area of approximately 2,232 hectares (ha) including the Cable Route Corridor and will consist of the following sites:
• Site 1 (sub-sites 1A, 1B): South-west of Great Moulton;
• Site 2 (sub-sites 2A, 2B, 2C): North-west of Pulham Market and South-east of Great Moulton;
• Site 3 (sub-sites 3A, 3B): South of Hempnall;
• Site 4 (sub-sites 4A, 4B): North of Long Stratton and South of Tasburgh;
• Site 5 (sub-sites 5A, 5B): South-west of Hempnall;
• Site 6: South-west of Hempnall and North of Silver Green;
• Site 7 (sub-sites 7A – 7L): Hempnall is located South-west, Tasburgh to the West, Saxlingham Nethergate to the North and Woodton to the South-east;
• Site 8 (sub-sites 8A, 8B): South-west of Brooke and North-east of Hempnall;
• Site 9: South of Brooke; and
• Site 10 (sub-sites 10A – 10E): North-east of Woodton and South-west of Seething.

The BESS is proposed to be located in the BESS Site and the location of the National Grid Substation will either be in the National Grid Substation Site or sub-Site 1. The Scheme would connect into the existing National Electricity Transmission System 400kV overhead line, which runs north to south between Norwich Main and Bramford substations.

The Scheme will operate for up to 60 years and will provide enough energy to power approximately 115,000 homes annually.

The proposed DCO will authorise:
• Construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the solar PV electricity generating station and associated development including grid connection and energy storage facility;
• Compulsory acquisition of land, including interests in land, rights over land and imposition of restrictions, powers to override, suspend or extinguish rights over land and powers for the temporary use of land;
• The application, modification and/or disapplication of legislation including legislation relating to compulsory purchase and landlord and tenant; and
• Such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, licenses, property rights, permits and consents as are necessary and/or convenient.

The Scheme is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the Scheme constitutes development for which an EIA is required and the proposed application for a DCO will therefore be accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES). The ES will provide a detailed description of the Scheme and its likely significant environmental effects. Information compiled so far about the Scheme’s likely significant environmental effects is set out for consultation in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (the PEIR) and summarised in a Non-Technical Summary (NTS).

Statutory Consultation
The Applicant is undertaking a statutory consultation on the proposals for East Pye Solar between 18 June 2025 and 6 August 2025.

Electronic copies of the Consultation Information Leaflet, Consultation Feedback Form, SoCC, PEIR, PEIR NTS, maps and plans explaining the statutory consultation process and details of the nature and location
of the Scheme can be found on the Applicant’s website in the document library at www.eastpyesolar.co.uk. These documents will be free to read and download from the Applicant’s website from 18 June 2025 to 6 August 2025.

A hard copy of the Consultation Information Leaflet, Consultation Feedback Form, SoCC, PEIR, PEIR NTS, maps and plans will be available for inspection at Long Stratton Library from 18 June 2025 until 6 August 2025.

Hard copies of the SoCC and PEIR NTS will also be available for inspection free of charge from 18 June 2025 until 6 August 2025 at all community access points listed.

Hard copies of the Consultation Information Leaflet and the Consultation Feedback Form will be available to take away free of charge from all community access points from 18 June 2025 to 6 August 2025.

Electronic copies of the consultation documents, including the SoCC, PEIR and PEIR NTS, may be viewed on a computer at the below community access points from 18 June 2025 until 6 August 2025.

While access to computers at community access points is free of change, the venues may require visitors to show proof of identify to use an on-site computer. A membership for the library may be required. We recommend contacting the venues to check the opening times prior to visiting. More information is available here at www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries and www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Locations with Open Library Access mean that you may access the library, its computers, and spaces even when the building is unstaffed. A membership for the library may be required

We recommend contacting the library to check the opening times prior to visiting. Further information can be found at www.norfolk.gov.uk/openlibrary

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

These consultation events offer an opportunity to find out more about the Scheme. Attendees do not need to register in advance to attend an in-person consultation event. Details of how to register to attend the Community Webinar can be found on the Applicant’s website www.eastpyesolar.co.uk. Alternatively joining details can be provided by contacting the community relations team on FREEPHONE 0808 281 3175 or sending an email to info@eastpyesolar.co.uk

For further information or queries, please call FREEPHONE 0808 281 3175 (free of charge); write to FREEPOST EAST PYE SOLAR (no stamp or further details required); email info@eastpyesolar.co.uk or visit www.eastpyesolar.co.uk

To obtain hard copies of the consultation documents
A hard copy of the PEIR and PEIR NTS can be provided on request during the statutory consultation period, though there will be a cost associated with this. The cost of printing and delivering the PEIR will be £750.

Hard copies of all other consultation materials, except the PEIR and PEIR NTS, can be requested free of charge during the statutory consultation period by contacting the Applicant on FREEPHONE 0808 281 3175 (free of charge) or by email at info@eastpyesolar.co.uk

The SoCC, Consultation Information Leaflet, Feedback Form and PEIR NTS can be made available in large print, audio or braille format, free of charge, by request to the Applicant on FREEPHONE0 808 281 3175 (free of charge) or by email at info@eastpyesolar.co.uk

Requests for translated documents will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Requests for multiple copies of these documents will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and a reasonable charge may apply to cover printing and postage costs.

Have your say
Feedback can be provided through the consultation feedback form on the Applicant’s website at www.eastpyesolar.co.uk. Hardcopy feedback forms will also be available at the community access points listed above and at the in-person public information events.

The Consultation Feedback Form, responses to the consultation or other representations in respect of East Pye Solar can also be sent to the Applicant by email to info@eastpyesolar.co.uk or by post to FREEPOST East Pye Solar (no stamp or further details required).

Any response or representation in respect of the statutory consultation must be received by the Applicant on or before 23:59 on Wednesday 6 August 2025.

The Applicant will consider and have regard to all responses to the statutory consultation when developing its DCO application. Individual responses may be made publicly available, or made available to the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and other relevant statutory authorities, in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008 and data protection legislation.

Respondents do not have to provide any personal information, but this information will help the Applicant to understand the range of responses and enable the Applicant to send you further information relating to East Pye Solar. Personal information will be kept confidential where possible. Please refer to our Privacy Notice for more details: www.eastpyesolar.co.uk/privacy-policy.