Heckington Fen Solar Park Consultation Documents
Our latest project in the fight against climate crisis, the Heckington Fen Solar Park, would power the equivalent of over 100,000 homes with affordable green electricity and prevent around 75,000 tonnes of harmful emissions every year.
Copies of all the documents and information relating to our Development Consent Order Application for Heckington Fen Solar Park can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
The Applicant undertook a targeted consultation on a proposed change, relating to land at Bicker Fen Substation, which is under the ownership of National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc (NGET). The consultation closed on 18 August 2023 and our Change Application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State) on 25 August 2023.
- Change Notification Consultation Information Leaflet (PDF, 3.5 MB)
A leaflet containing further information is available to view here:
- Heckington Fen – Feb 2023 Update (PDF, 0.05 MB)
Prior to submitting our project's DCO application in February 2023, a newsletter was sent to local residents and a copy is available here:
- April Postcard (PDF, 6.8 MB)
Following acceptance of the project, a postcard was sent to local residents advising them how to register as an Interested Party. Formal Section 56 letters were sent to statutory consultees, stakeholders, and landowners. A copy of the postcard is available here:
- Further (targeted) consultation information leaflet (PDF, 7.2 MB)
We completed a second phase of consultation between 11 November 2022 and 18 December 2022. This was based on further assessment and feedback received during our Statutory Consultation, and resulted in our Order Limits on the whole being reduced. However, we have made a few other localised changes which covered a small number of additional areas. As these were not part of the Order Limits at Statutory Consultation, we consulted on them.
- Consultation Newsletter (PDF, 337 KB)
Consultation newsletter - the newsletter was sent to almost 6,000 residential and commercial properties with the defined consultation zone surrounding the site. The newsletter contains a short overview of the proposals along with details about how people can get involved in the consultation.
- Consultation Booklet (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Consultation booklet – the booklet provides a more detailed overview of the proposals, including a summary of each element of the solar park, energy storage and underground connection to Bicker Fen Substation. It also contains a summary of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and some of the key sections.
- Feedback Form (PDF, 1.0 MB)
Statutory consultation feedback form – the feedback form sets out a list of areas that we are asking for feedback on. We recommend completing the feedback form alongside the consultation booklet.
- Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PDF, 153.5 MB)
Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) - the PEIR sets out the preliminary findings from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The EIA is a process to identify the potential effects that a proposed development may have on the environment, people and local communities. This process involves consultation with affected communities and other stakeholders to ensure that the EIA has identified the relevant effects of the Project. These effects can be positive or negative and are summarised in this document. It also includes photomontages of the proposed solar park from various locations around the site. Figures support the PEIR and are included along with the main text.
- Appendices support the PEIR (PDF, 77.0 MB)
- Non-Technical Summary of the PEIR (PDF, 31.0 MB)
Non-Technical Summary of the PEIR – a shorter summary version of the full PEIR
- Section 48 Notice (PDF, 99 KB)
Section 48 Notice – this is a statutory notice placed in national and local newspapers ahead of the consultation starting and contains a summary of the proposals and the consultation.
- Statement of Community Consultation - June 2022 (PDF, 7.9 MB)
- Scoping Opinion - February 2022 (PDF, 9.9 MB)
- Scoping Opinion Response - Natural England - February 2022 (PDF, 552 KB)
- Scoping Request - January 2022 (PDF, 10.4 MB)
- Postcard Update - January 2022 (PDF, 759 KB)
- Introduction to Heckington Fen Solar Park - Newsletter Autumn 2021 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
The following formal notices were issued ahead of the meetings on the main webpage, and have been moved here for completeness afterwards: