The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP) made the following Statement today:

This Statement confirms that it has been necessary to extend the deadlines for decisions on the following four applications made under the Planning Act 2008:

• The Mallard Pass Solar Farm Development Consent Order for the construction and operation of a solar farm energy generation development on land in Lincolnshire, South Kesteven and Rutland by Mallard Pass Solar Farm Limited. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 16 February 2024, and the previous deadline for a decision was 13 June 2024.
• The Sunnica Solar Farm Development Consent Order for the construction and operation of a solar farm and battery storage energy generation development on land in Cambridgeshire by Sunnica Limited. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 28 June 2023, and the previous deadline for a decision was 20 June 2024.
• The Gate Burton Energy Park Development Consent Order for the construction and operation of a solar farm and battery storage energy generation development on land in Lincolnshire by Gate Burton Energy Park Limited. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 4 April 2024 and the previous deadline for a decision was 4 July 2024.
• The North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park Development Consent Order for the construction and operation of a combined heat and power enabled energy generating development, with an electrical output of up to 95 megawatts, incorporating carbon capture, associated district heat and private wire networks, hydrogen production, ash treatment, and other associated developments on land at Flixborough Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe by North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park Limited. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 15 August 2023, and the previous deadline for a decision was 18 July 2024.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the Examining Authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a Statement to Parliament to announce it.

Prior to taking decisions, the Secretary of State decided to set new deadlines for the applications as follows:

• Mallard Pass Solar Farm: 22 July 2024
• Sunnica Solar Farm: 22 July 2024
• Gate Burton Energy Park: 22 July 2024

This is due to the General Election as no decisions are taken during a pre-election period. This is the first opportunity I have had to update the House on these cases.

The decisions for those cases extended to 22 July have now been taken. In the case of the North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park the new deadline is 18 October 2024 to allow for Defra to consider the evidence gathered by its review into the role of waste incineration capacity in the management of residual wastes in England.

The Department will always endeavour to issue decisions ahead of deadlines above wherever possible.

The decision to set the new deadline for the North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.