On Monday 26 June 2023, the Longfield Solar Farm application was granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The application involves a new solar photovoltaic array generating station, co-located with battery storage, together with grid connection infrastructure. The generating capacity will be up to 500MW.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Longfield Solar Energy Farm Limited on 28 February 2022 and accepted for Examination on 28 March 2022.
Following an Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 18 April 2023.
This is the 124th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and 71st energy application to have been examined by The Planning Inspectorate within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.
The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Paul Morrison said:
“The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them.
“Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this examination.
“The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.”
The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.
