Solar PV developer Island Green Power has seen a development consent (DCO) decision postponed by the UK government for its 480MW West Burton project in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The examination process for the Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) concluded in May 2024, with the Planning Inspectorate passing on their recommendation to the Minister in early August.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, then had three months to make a decision on whether to proceed with development and grant a DCO for the West Burton solar PV plant. The deadline for this was November 8.
However, yesterday (confirmed November 6) the decision will now be postponed until January 24, 2025. The government said this was to “allow time for the necessary public consultation on possible variations to the application”.
The solar PV NSIP will be located in the vicinity of the former West Burton A coal-fired power station closed on March 31, 2023. It will house ground-mounted solar panels and be connected via underground cables.
The closure of the West Burton power station has created an area where the existing link allows energy infrastructure to be developed and connected to the electricity grid. This forms a core aspect of the West Burton Solar NSIP, which will leverage that grid connection by developing the necessary infrastructure.
Island Green Power opens consultation on 500MW solar energy NSIP
The setback comes days after Island Green Power opened a public consultation on early-stage plans for a 500MW solar power plant, along with a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could have an output of up to 500MW.
The East Pye Solar project will be located on 1,100 hectares of land south of Norwich and north of Harleston. Solar PV modules would be installed at two points within this area, approximately 4 miles apart.
The smaller of the two, south of Great Moulton, will also be the site of the BESS part of the project, which Island Green says will have a capacity of up to 500 MW.
The non-statutory consultation comes after Island Green unveiled plans for the development in early September, just a week after Energy Minister Ed Miliband granted the developer a DCO for the 600MW Cottam Solar Project.
The 600MW development will consist of four ground-mounted solar PV generating stations in West Lindsay, Lincolnshire, four on-site substations and a BESS spread across four separate sites, covering a total area of 1,270 hectares.
