What happens next
A decision on the application for a Development Consent Order for Cleve Hill Solar Park was taken on 28 May 2020 and has now been issued.
The period for legal challenge is defined in s118 of the Planning Act 2008. Further information about legal challenge can be found in the letter sent to all Interested Parties accompanying the Secretary of State’s decision and statement of reasons.
If you have any queries about the process please email the Planning Inspectorate at [email protected] or telephone the helpline on 0303 444 5000.
Timeline (58 items)
A Correction Order (PDF, 80 KB) and a Correction Notice (PDF, 129 KB) for The Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 have been published. This came into force on 11 August 2021.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has today granted development consent for the Project. For further information please refer to the following documents:
Secretary of State Decision Letter
Development Consent Order as Made
Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report
Planning Inspectorate Decision Cover Letter
Habitats Regulations Assessment
Regulation 31 Notice
The responses to the Secretary of State’s recent consultation have now been published.
The Secretary of State has issued a letter seeking comments from the Applicant on matters raised during the Examination. Consultation responses should be submitted by 23.59 on 20 April 2020.
IMPORTANT: As a result of ongoing Government guidance relating to COVID-19 the Planning Inspectorate is seeking to ensure that all Parties are notified of key developments on projects, in a timely manner. In order to help achieve this, and to minimise any delays which could arise if the postal service is affected, it would be extremely helpful if registered Parties that have not already done so could supply us with a contact e-mail address as soon as possible (details in the contact information heading of the project page).
Please be assured that this information will be managed in line with our Privacy Notice.
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion to accept the following Additional Submissions that were received before the Close of Examination on the 30 November 2019
Clever Hill Solar Park Ltd
Alice Beckett
Toucan Gen Co Limited
Prior to the close of the Examination the Examining Authority exercised its discretion to accept the following documents:
1. From CPRE: Additional Submission relating to the effect of light pollution on insects;
2. From London Array Limited: Additional Submission confirming its withdrawal of representations;
3. From the Applicant: Additional Submission confirming the agreed position with London Array Limited;
4. From the Applicant: Additional Submission providing TSO Validation Report for the DCO;
5. From the Applicant: Additional Submission Rule 17 response to the final submission from Mr & Mrs Montague;
6. From the Crown Estate providing a position update
Additionally, further concerns have been expressed jointly by the Faversham Society and CPRE to Dr Pauleen Lane in relation to the appointment of the Examining Authority. The concerns, and Dr Lane’s response, have been published.
The Examination Library has been updated to include these documents.
The Examination closed at 23:59 on Saturday 30th November 2019.
The Examining Authority has issued a letter seeking further information and confirming variations to the Examination timetable. This has been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised it’s discretion to accept an Additional Submission from The Faversham Society.
The submissions for Deadline 7 have now been published. The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from National Grid Electricity Transmissions PLC withdrawing their Relevant Representation.
The Exam Library has been updated.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from the Applicant relating to the access route. This has been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from the Applicant. This has been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Dr Tim Ingram. This has been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has issued a Request for Further Information – Rule 17 and a Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES). The Examination Library has been updated.
The audio recordings of the September hearings and a note of an Unaccompanied Site Inspection have been published. These have been added to the Examination Library.
We have received a further query in relation to the appointment of the Examining Authority. A copy of the query and Dr Pauleen Lane’s response have been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accepted an Additional Submission from the Applicant.
The agendas for the September Hearings have now been published. These have been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from the Applicant.
The Examining Authority’s Further Written Questions and Notification of Hearings to be held during the week commencing 9 September 2019 have now been published and added to the Examination Library.
All documents submitted for Deadline 3 have now been published and the Exam Library updated. The Examining Authority has also exercised their discretion to accept the following Additional Submissions from:
The recordings of the hearings held in July 2019 have now been published. Additionally, notes of unaccompanied site inspections also undertaken in July 2019 have been published. These documents have been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion to accept Additional Submissions from:
- The Applicant
- Graveney Rural Environment Action Team (GREAT)
- Marie King
- London Array Limited
- National Grid Electricity Transmission
The Examining Authority has also accepted a late Deadline 2 Submission from Chris Lowe.
The Exam Library Has been updated.
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion to accept Additional Submissions from:
– The Applicant
– Harlaxton Energy Network Ltd
The Examination Library has been updated.
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion and accepted an Additional Submissions from
– the Applicant
– Stephen Ledger
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Addition Submission from Swale Borough Council providing supporting information for Issue Specific Hearing 2.
The agendas for the July Hearings and the itinerary for the Accompanied Site Inspection have now been published. These have been added to the Examination Library.
Deadline 2 responses have now been published.
Additionally, please note that a review of the Examining Authority has been carried out under section 68 of the Planning Act 2008 and an additional panel member has now been added.
All deadline 2 responses, and a copy of the letter amending the panel, have been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion to accept the following late Deadline 1 Submissions:
These have been added to the Examination Library.
Deadline 1 submissions have now been published. The Examination Library will be updated and published as soon as possible.
The Examining Authority’s notes of Unaccompanied Site Inspections held in May have now been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) has been sent to Interested Parties
Procedural decision following Preliminary Meeting
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept an Additional Submission. This has been published and added to the Examination Library.
- Preliminary Meeting takes place
- Examination begins
We have recently received correspondence outlining concerns about the appointment of the Examining Authority. These have been published, along with the Planning Inspectorate’s response, and have been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept the following Additional Submissions from the Applicant:
– Statement of Common Ground between the Applicant and Public Health England;
– Statement of Common Ground between the Applicant and Environment Agency.
Both documents have been added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept an Additional Submission. This has been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept an Additional Submission. This has been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept an Additional Submission. This has been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from the Faversham and Swale East Branch Labour Party. This has been published and added to the Examination Library.
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Graveney Rural Environment Action Team (GREAT).
The notification of Preliminary Meeting (Rule 6 letter) has been sent Read the letter
The letter also includes the draft Examination Timetable and Initial Assessment of Principal Issues.
The Examining Authority has used its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from the Applicant and a Late Relevant Representation. These have been published and added to the Examination Library.
