Solar PV developer Island Green Power has seen a development consent order (DCO) decision delayed by the UK government for its 480MW West Burton project located across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The examination process closed for the nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) in May 2024 and the planning inspectorate passed their recommendation to the Secretary of State in early August.
The secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, then had a three-month window to provide a decision on whether to push forward with the development and grant a DCO for the West Burton solar PV power plant. The deadline for this was 8 November.
However, confirmed yesterday (6 November), the decision will now be delayed until 24 January 2025. The government said this was to “allow time for necessary public consultation on potential variations to the application”.
The solar PV NSIP will be situated in close proximity to the former West Burton A coal-fired power plant, which closed on 31 March 2023. It will host ground-mounted solar PV modules and be connected by underground cables.
The closure of the West Burton power plant has left an area where energy infrastructure can be developed and connected to the grid due to the existing connection. This forms a core aspect of the West Burton solar NSIP, which will tap into that grid connection by developing the necessary infrastructure.
Island Green Power opens consultation on 500MW solar NSIP
This setback comes days after Island Green Power opened a public consultation on early-stage plans for a 500MW solar PV power plant co-located with a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could have up to 500MW output.
The East Pye Solar project will be situated 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 6.5km apart.
The smaller of the two, south of Great Moulton, will also be the location of the BESS part of the project, which Island Green says will have an output of up to 500MW.
The non-statutory consultation comes after Island Green revealed plans for the development early in September, just one week after energy secretary Ed Miliband granted the developer a DCO for the 600MW Cottam Solar Project.
The 600MW development will comprise four ground-mounted solar PV generating stations in West Lindsay, Lincolnshire, four on-site substations and a BESS across four separate sites, totalling an area of 1,270 hectares.
