Consultation

Public consultation is a crucial component of the pre-application process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). 

We are committed to early and continuous engagement to ensure that the development of our proposals for Light Valley Solar are informed and shaped by community input. Local communities, residents, and councils play a vital role in this process. The design process for the proposed development will be iterative and will be informed by feedback received during the two stages of community consultation that are planned for the project. 

Our second phase of consultation is running from Thursday 26th June to Thursday 7th August 2025.  

  • This is a non-statutory phase of consultation during which time we shared details of our early-phase proposals for the overall project and invited you to tell us what you think. We will use the views and comments you submitted during the first phase of consultation, together with the findings from ongoing studies and surveys we are carrying out, to help us shape and refine our proposals. 

    We received feedback on: 

    • The overall project 

    • Local projects and community initiatives we could support to create benefits for communities in proximity to our proposed scheme. 

    • Additional considerations for how we deliver the next phase of consultation 

  • We are carrying out a second phase of consultation on more detailed proposals for the project, from Thursday 26th June to Thursday 7th August 2025. 

    This is a statutory phase of consultation required by the application process for NSIPs.  

    After submission of the DCO application, PINS will decide whether the application meets the standards required to be accepted for examination. If the application is accepted, you will have the opportunity to participate in the examination process by registering as an Interested Party, enabling you to submit your views in writing or present them orally at hearings.  

    Once the examination has concluded, PINS will make a recommendation to the SoS within three months. The SoS for Energy Security and Net Zero will then have a further three months to issue a f inal decision on the application. More information about the DCO process can be found on the PINS website.