Nottinghamshire - Notice Of Compulsory Acquisition Of Land

NOTICE OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION
UNDER SECTION 134(7) OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008
THE STEEPLE RENEWABLES PROJECT 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 Friday 09 September 2026, includes provision authorising the compulsory acquisition of land, existing rights over land, and of rights over land by creating new rights as described in Schedule 1.

The Order includes provision authorising the acquisition for the purpose of the construction, operation and decommissioning of Steeple Renewables Project which comprises ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array electricity generating facility, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure located in Sturton-le-Steeple Nottinghamshire in the administrative boundary of Bassetlaw District Council.

A copy of the Order has been deposited at the following locations and may be inspected at all reasonable hours:

*Please note that opening hours are subject to change. Please check and confirm opening times with the venue if planning a visit.

A copy of the order is also available to view online in the ‘Documents’ section of the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010163/ 

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 was published).

Once the provision in the Order authorising compulsory acquisition comes into force Steeple Solar Farm Limited may acquire any of the land (including any existing rights and/or new rights) 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 if a general vesting declaration were executed is invited to give Steeple Solar Farm Limited information about the person’s name, address and interest in land, using a prescribed form.

The prescribed form is set out in Schedule 3 and should be returned to Ardent Management, who are acting on behalf of Steeple Solar Farm Limited, at: 

Address: Ardent Management Ltd, 36 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5JL
Email: info@steeplerenewablesproject.co.uk 
Telephone: 0115 718 2070

SCHEDULE 1
DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND, EXISTING RIGHTS AND THE NEW RIGHTS

The Order land (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) is shown on the Land Plans (as defined in Article 2 of the Order), described in the Book of Reference (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) and located within the administrative boundaries of Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. Copies of the Land Plans and the Book of Reference referred to in the Order are available at the Planning Inspectorate’s website above.

This notice relates to so much of the Order land as shown on the land plans shaded pink (land proposed to be permanently acquired and to be used temporarily) and blue (land proposed for permanent acquisition of rights or imposition of restrictive covenants and to be used temporarily) (the “land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition”).

In respect of the land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition, the Order authorises Steeple Solar Farm Limited to:

(a) acquire so much of the Order land as is specified by Article 18 (compulsory acquisition of land) of the Order as is required for the authorised development (as defined in Article 2 of the Order), or to facilitate it, or as is incidental to it;

(b) acquire such rights over the Order land, by creating them as well as by acquiring rights already in existence, and impose restrictive covenants over the Order land, as is authorised by Article 20 (compulsory acquisition of rights) of the Order.

The Order includes a power to override easements and other rights in accordance with Article 24 (power to override easements and other rights) of the Order where authorised activity takes place on land within the Order limits.

The purposes for which new rights may be acquired and restrictions may be imposed are described in Schedule 7 to the Order, which can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010163.    

SCHEDULE 2
STATEMENT ON THE 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 Steeple Renewables Project Order 2026 which authorises compulsory acquisition comes into force, the acquiring authority (hereinafter called Steeple Solar Farm Limited) 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 Steeple Solar Farm Limited at the end of the period mentioned in paragraph 2 below.

Notices concerning general vesting declaration
2. As soon as may be after Steeple Solar Farm Limited execute a general vesting declaration, they must serve notice of it on every occupier of any 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 them 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 Steeple Solar Farm Limited together with the right to enter on the land and take possession of it. 

Every person on whom Steeple Solar Farm Limited 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 the 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 Steeple Solar Farm Limited 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 they first serve notice to treat in respect of the tenancy and then serve every occupier of the land with a notice of their 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
STEEPLE RENEWABLES PROJECT ORDER 2026
To: FREEPOST Steeple Renewables Project
By email: info@steeplerenewablesproject.co.uk 

[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)
(i)………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. Land in which an interest is held by informant(s)
(ii)………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Nature of interest
(iii)………………………………………………………………………………………………
Signed……………………………………………………………………..
On behalf of……………………………………………………………….
Date………………………………………………………………………..

Guidance notes on how to complete this form
(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 land is leasehold, the date of commencement and length of term should be given. If the land is subject to a mortgage or other encumbrance, details should be given, e.g. name of building society and roll number.