Planning
Process
Given that the project would generate more than 50MW of renewable energy, Tillbridge Solar is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This means that we need to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Secretary of State will appoint an independent Examining Authority to scrutinise the development consent application in accordance with the relevant legislation (the Planning Act 2008). The Secretary of State will ask the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to run the examination of the DCO application. Following this period of examination, PINS will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to whether to grant development consent.
You can read more information about the DCO planning process on the PINS website here.
We are planning to submit our full application to the Planning Inspectorate towards the end of in 2023. We have been and will continue to work with communities and other stakeholders before this to develop and refine our Scheme in more detail.
Now our statutory consultation has closed, we will review all comments and suggestions that have been received during the consultation period. We will take time to consider and have regard to feedback when making further refinements to our proposed design and developing our planned mitigation measures.
We will set out a summary of the responses received in a Consultation Report, with details on how feedback has shaped and influenced the proposals. This report will form part of our application for a DCO, which we expect to submit later this year.
You will be able to register your interest in our proposals directly with the Planning Inspectorate, who will then inform you about the progress of our application during the examination process, and let you know about further opportunities you will have to inform and contribute to the planning process.
Opportunities for collaboration
Latest information on Cumulative Effects can be found in PEI Report Volume I Chapter 17: Cumulative Effects. This summarises our early-stage assessments and will be updated as part of our final Environmental Statement. All PEI Report chapters can be found in our ‘Documents Library’
We have been and will continue to work constructively with these other developers to ensure:
Indicative timeline
- April 2022
- Project Inception
- April to June 2022
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Baseline Surveys
- July 2022
- Collaboration workshops held with stakeholders
- September to October 2022
- Post-collaboration workshop report and community newsletter issued
- July to November 2022
- EIA Scoping Stage
- November 2022
- Scoping Opinion issued by Planning Inspectorate (PINS)
- December 2022 to May 2023
- Preparation of Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR)
- May to July 2023
- Statutory consultation
- July to November 2023
- Ongoing engagement with stakeholders and local community
- July to November 2023
- Preparation of DCO Application and associated documents, including Environmental Statement
- November 2023
- Anticipated DCO Submission
- December 2023
- Acceptance by PINS
- January to April 2024
- Pre-examination period (estimated to last up to four months)
- May to October 2024
- Examination
- November to January 2025
- Recommendation to Secretary of State (within 3 months of examination)
- February to April 2025
- Decision (within 3 months of Recommendation)