Longfield Solar Energy Farm Limited is proposing a new solar farm site. The project is a joint venture between EDF Renewables (EDFR) and Padero Solar.
The Planning Inspectorate accepted an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for examination on 28 March 2022.
If they grant the DCO, it would be sited on farmland north east of Chelmsford and north of the A12 between Boreham, Hatfield Peverel, Great Leighs and Terling. The site falls across both the City Council and Braintree District administrative areas.
The proposal for the solar farm includes:
- ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity from the sun
- battery storage to allow Longfield to import, store and export electricity to the National Grid
- grid connection infrastructure, which allows export or import of up to 500MW of electricity to and from the National Grid
- supporting infrastructure, such as sub-stations, inverters, transformers, switchgear and internal cabling
- areas for landscaping, habitat and biodiversity improvements and mitigation
- other associated infrastructure needed for the construction and operation of the site, such as construction compounds, access tracks and welfare facilities
The planning process
A solar farm of this scale is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. This means the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy needs to approve it, through a Development Consent Order (DCO).
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) manage DCO applications on behalf of the Secretary of State.
We are a consultee on the DCO application and are not responsible for determining it. If you have any queries on the application, or wish to talk to someone about it, you can call 0303 444 5000 or email LongfieldSolarFarm@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
You can view details of the Longfields application.
Longfield Solar Farm have now begun a period of consultation, and you can submit relevant comments to the Planning Inspectorate from Thursday 14 April 2022 and Thursday 2 June 2022.
You must make any comments (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the application) on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form.
You can read the Planning Inspectorate's guide on how to comment.
They are also asking for feedback on ways to improve the service for people getting involved in national infrastructure projects. If you submit the feedback form, it will have no effect on the outcome of any ongoing projects or participation in the examination of this project.
You can find out more about the project, consultation and FAQs on the Longfield Solar Farm project website.