Light Valley Solar is classified as an NSIP because of the amount of electricity it is anticipated to deliver from the installed capacity (around 500MW) which exceeds the 50MW threshold set out in the Planning Act 2008 to qualify as an NSIP.

The development regime for an NSIP comes under the Planning Act 2008. This means we need to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build, operate and decommission Light Valley Solar to the Planning Inspectorate rather than the local planning authority. In the case of energy related NSIPs the Planning Inspectorate acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

It will carry out an examination of our application for development consent for Light Valley Solar and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State on whether to grant consent. The Secretary of State will make the final decision on whether to grant consent for the Project.

We anticipate that the development process through DCO submission and examination will take between two to three years. We intend to submit our DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), who will administer the application on behalf of the Secretary of State, in 2026., with January being the earliest possible submission date depending on survey progress. Subject to achieving consent, construction would start no earlier than 2028.

While our DCO application will not be submitted to the local planning authority, North Yorkshire Council and stakeholder groups will play a key role in the planning process and be consulted as the Project progresses.

You can find more information about the application process for NSIP projects on the Planning Inspectorate website.