The Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026
Amended the 2023 Development Consent Order for Longfield Solar Farm to update technical designs, hedgerow protections, and biodiversity measurement standards.
This Order modifies the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 to adjust technical specifications and environmental requirements for the renewable energy project.
It increases the allowed cable circuits for specific grid connection works, updates the planning permission references for Park Farm, and modifies the application of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.
The Order also mandates that landscape and ecological management plans for the main site construction works demonstrate a minimum of 87% biodiversity net gain using a specific metric.
These changes apply to the developers of the Longfield Solar Farm and the relevant planning authorities in Essex.
Arguments For
The order states that the Secretary of State considered the application for changes under the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011.
The document asserts that the changes are not materially different from those proposed in the original application following public consultation.
The amendments facilitate technical adjustments, such as increasing the number of 400 kilovolt cable circuits in Work No. 4A from one to two.
The order updates the regulatory framework for biodiversity by specifying the use of The Biodiversity Metric 4.0 to calculate a minimum 87% biodiversity net gain.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars or environmental groups might question the modification of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, which allows for hedgerow removal specifically for this development.
The broadening of the definition of 'commence' to include site clearance involving vegetation removal may raise concerns from parties seeking stricter pre-commencement environmental protections.
Affected landowners or local residents might argue that increasing the cable circuit capacity from one to two circuits constitutes a greater impact than the 'non-material' designation suggests.
Citation and commencement
- This Order may be cited as the Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026 and comes into force on 25th February 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the legal instrument.
It specifies that the provisions of the Order take legal effect starting on 25 February 2026.
Amendment to the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023
- The Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 ('the 2023 Order') is amended as follows.
This provision identifies the original legislation, the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023, that is being modified.
It serves as the legal link between the original development consent and the new amendments.
Amendments to article 2 of the 2023 Order
- In article 2, after the definition of 'limits of deviation', insert the following-
- ''main site construction works' means that part of the authorised development identified in work numbers 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10;'.
- Substitute the definition of the 'Park Farm planning permission' with the following-
''Park Farm planning permission' means planning permission CHL 1890/87 granted by Essex County Council on 15 June 1990 (as amended) and/or planning permission CHL 1019/87 granted by Essex County Council on 15 June 1990 (as amended);'.
This section introduces a new definition for 'main site construction works' to specify which parts of the project are subject to certain environmental requirements.
It also updates the definition of 'Park Farm planning permission' to include specific reference numbers for permissions granted by Essex County Council.
Amendments to article 6 of the 2023 Order
- In paragraph 6(4), for 'the land at plot 1/2C', substitute 'the Order land'.
- After paragraph 6(4), insert the following-
- '(5) Regulation 6 of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 is modified so as to read for the purposes of this Order only as if there were inserted after paragraph (1)(j) the following-
or
- (k) for carrying out development which has been authorised by the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023.'.
This section expands the geographic scope of certain permissions from a specific plot to the entire 'Order land'.
It also modifies national hedgerow protection rules to explicitly permit the removal of hedgerows if the action is necessary to carry out the solar farm development.
Amendment to Schedule 1 to the 2023 Order
- In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, in paragraph (i) of the description of Work No. 4A, for 'one 400 kilovolt cable circuit' substitute 'up to two 400 kilovolt cable circuits'.
This amendment changes the technical description of the grid connection infrastructure.
It allows for the installation of up to two 400 kilovolt cable circuits instead of the single circuit permitted in the original 2023 Order.
Amendments to Schedule 2 to the 2023 Order
- Paragraph 9 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 is amended as follows.
- For sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) substitute the following-
'(2) The landscape and ecological management plan submitted under sub-paragraph (1) in respect of the main site construction works must include details of how the plan will secure a minimum of 87% biodiversity net gain during the operation of the authorised development, calculated using The Biodiversity Metric 4.0, published by Natural England on 20 April 2023 (or such other biodiversity metric approved by the relevant planning authority in consultation with the relevant statutory nature conservation body).
(3) Any and all landscape and ecological management plans submitted under subparagraph (1) must include details of-
- (a) how the landscaping and ecological measures will be managed and maintained during the operational life of the solar farm works and grid connection works to the date on which the decommissioning environmental management plan is implemented pursuant to requirement 20 (decommissioning and restoration); and
- (b) how any approaches and measures in the biodiversity design strategy have been incorporated into the design of the solar farm works and grid connection works.
- (4) The landscape and ecological management plan must be implemented as approved.'
- After sub-paragraph (4), insert the following-
'(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), 'commence' includes site clearance involving vegetation removal.'.
This section mandates that construction cannot start until a management plan is approved that ensures a minimum 87% increase in biodiversity value, measured by Natural England's Metric 4.0.
It requires the developer to detail the long-term maintenance of these ecological measures until the site is eventually decommissioned.
Additionally, it clarifies that 'commencing' the project includes clearing plants and trees from the site, thereby triggering the need for prior approval of these plans.
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