The Green Hill Solar Farm Order 2026

SCHEDULE 1 AUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT

Article 3 1 In this Schedule— “energy storage” means equipment used for the storage of electrical energy; “inverter” means electrical equipment required to convert direct current power to alternating current; “mounting structure” means a frame or rack made of galvanised steel, anodised aluminium or other material designed to support the solar modules; “National Grid substation” means the existing 400kV substation at Grendon, Northamptonshire, owned and operated by National Grid; “solar module” means a solar photovoltaic panel or module designed to convert solar irradiance to electrical energy; “substation” means a substation containing electrical equipment required to switch, transform, convert electricity and provide reactive power consumption; “switchgear” means a combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment; and “transformer” means a structure serving to transform electricity to a different voltage. Authorised development 2 In the unitary areas of West Northamptonshire, North Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes a nationally significant infrastructure project as defined in sections 14 and 15 of the 2008 Act and associated development under section 115(1)(b) of the 2008 Act. The nationally significant infrastructure project comprises all or any of the work numbers in this Schedule or any part of any work number in this Schedule— Work No. 1— a ground mounted solar photovoltaic generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of over 100 megawatts including— solar modules fitted to mounting structures; DC electrical cabling and combiner DC boxes; conversion units including inverters, transformers, switchgear, and monitoring and control systems; and electrical and communications cabling connecting Work No. 1(c) to Work Nos. 3A, 3B and 3C; and associated development within the meaning of section 115(2) of the 2008 Act comprising— Work No. 2— an energy storage facility comprising— battery energy storage system units each containing fire protection systems and components; a structure protecting the battery energy storage cells comprised in Work No. 2(a) and ancillary equipment, being either one container or multiple containers joined to each other, mounted on foundations or on piles; interconnection units including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, liquid cooling systems and temperature management either housed within the containers comprised in Work No. 2(b), attached to the side or top of each of the containers, or located separate from but near to each of the containers; conversion units including inverters, transformers, switchgear and energy management system; monitoring and control systems housed within a container with Work No. 2(c) or located separately in its own container or control room; electrical cabling including electrical cables connecting Work No. 2 to Work No. 3A; bunded impermeable surface or other form of containment system to manage surface water drainage; water storage facility for the purposes of firefighting water supply; and bunded impermeable surface or other form of containment system and associated infrastructure to contain used firewater. Work No. 3— works in connection with onsite substations including— Work No. 3A— a substation with works comprising— an up to 400 kV substation, with associated transformer bays, feeder bays, transformers, switchgear buildings and ancillary equipment including reactive power units; control building or container relay rooms with associated offices, storage and welfare facilities; monitoring and control systems for Work Nos. 1 and 3A; maintenance compound; electrical cabling; earthworks, including soil stripping and site levelling; and foundations. Work No. 3B— a substation with works comprising— an up to 132 kV substation, with associated transformer bays, feeder bays, transformers, switchgear buildings and ancillary equipment including reactive power units; control building or container relay rooms with associated offices, storage and welfare facilities; monitoring and control systems for Work Nos. 1 and 3B; maintenance compound; electrical cabling; earthworks, including soil stripping and site levelling; and foundations. Work No. 3C— a substation with works comprising— an up to 33 kV substation, with associated feeder bays, switchgear and ancillary equipment including reactive power units; control unit or container relay unit with associated storage; monitoring and control systems for Work Nos. 1 and 3C; maintenance compound; electrical cabling; earthworks, including soil stripping and site levelling; and foundations. Work No. 4— works to the National Grid substation to facilitate connection of the authorised development to the National Grid including population of the substation bay— a 400 kV 3-phase 4000 A circuit breaker for control and protection of the outgoing circuit serving the authorised development; a 3-phase set of current transformers for protection of the new outgoing 400 kV feeder circuit and the overlap with the National Grid system; a 3-phase high accuracy metering current and voltage transformer assembly for commercial metering of the connection; a 3-phase 400 kV line disconnector/earth switch for isolation and earthing of the outgoing 400 kV feeder circuit; a 3-phase set of 400 kV high voltage cable sealing ends and cables connecting the National Grid substation with Work No. 5; a 3-phase power quality ready capacitor voltage transformer; and provision of a stand-alone building to house duplicate feeder protection systems, commercial metering systems, protection and control equipment and user remote control and data acquisition apparatus. Work No. 5— works in connection with electrical cabling including— Work No. 5A— works to lay electrical cables up to 400 kV including— high voltage electrical cables connecting Work Nos. 3A and 4; high voltage electrical cables connecting Work No. 3A to Work No. 3A; laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes, marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; tunnelling, boring and drilling works; and temporary construction and decommissioning laydown areas comprising— areas of hardstanding, compacted ground or track matting; car parking; area to store materials and equipment; site and welfare offices and workshops; security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting; safety infrastructure to manage traffic when crossing roads or other obstacles; site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections. Work No. 5B— works to lay electrical cables up to 132 kV including— high voltage electrical cables up to 132 kV connecting Work Nos. 3A and 3B; high voltage electrical cables up to 33 kV connecting Work Nos. 3B and 3C; laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes, marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; tunnelling, boring and drilling works; and temporary construction and decommissioning laydown areas comprising— areas of hardstanding, compacted ground or track matting; car parking; area to store materials and equipment; site and welfare offices and workshops; security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting; safety infrastructure to manage traffic when crossing roads or other obstacles; site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections. Work No. 6— works including— fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; works for the provision of security and monitoring measures including CCTV columns, lighting columns and lighting, cameras, weather stations, communication infrastructure, and perimeter fencing; landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures including planting; improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks; laying down of internal access tracks, ramps, bridges, means of access and footpaths; temporary footpath diversions, signage and information boards; earthworks; sustainable drainage system ponds, runoff outfalls, general drainage and irrigation infrastructure and improvements or extensions to existing drainage and irrigation systems; acoustic barriers; electricity and telecommunications connections; and secondary temporary construction and decommissioning laydown areas. Work No. 7— temporary construction and decommissioning laydown areas comprising— areas of hardstanding; car parking; site and welfare offices and workshops; security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting; area to store materials and equipment; site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections. Work No. 8— works to facilitate access to Work Nos. 1 to 7 and 9 to 10 including— Work No. 8A— works to facilitate temporary construction, maintenance and decommissioning access to Work Nos. 1 to 7 and 9 to 10 including— creation of accesses from the public highway; creation of visibility splays; works to alter the layout of any street or highway temporarily; and offsite works adjacent to highways land including those to structures, boundary features, drainage features on private land, in connection with the movement of abnormal indivisible loads. Work No. 8B— works to facilitate permanent access to Work Nos. 1 to 6 and 9 to 10 including— creation of accesses from the public highway; creation of visibility splays; works to alter the layout of any street or highway permanently; and offsite works adjacent to highways land including those to structures, boundary features, drainage features on private land, in connection with the movement of abnormal indivisible loads. Work No. 9— works to create and maintain habitat management areas, including— fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; signs, interpretation boards or any other information display board; earth works including bunds, embankments, ponds, trenching and swales; landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures including planting; means of access; and drainage. Work No. 10— creation of permissive paths including— Work No. 10A— creation of permissive paths for the exclusive use of pedestrian users comprising— ramps, bridges and other means of access; fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; signs, interpretation boards or any other information display board; and landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures including planting. Work No. 10B— creation of permissive paths for the exclusive use of pedestrian and equestrian users comprising— ramps, bridges and other means of access; fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; signs, interpretation boards or any other information display board; and landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures including planting. Work No. 10C— creation of permissive paths for the exclusive use of pedestrian, cycle and equestrian users comprising— ramps, bridges and other means of access; fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; signs, interpretation boards or any other information display board; and landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures including planting. In connection with and in addition to Work Nos. 1 to 10 further associated development within the Order limits including— (a) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; (b) bunds, embankments, trenching and swales; (c) works to the existing irrigation system and works to alter the position and extent of such irrigation system; (d) surface water drainage systems, storm water attenuation systems including storage basins, oil water separators, including channelling and culverting and works to existing drainage networks; (e) electrical, gas, water, foul water drainage and telecommunications infrastructure connections, diversions and works to, and works to alter the position of, such services and utilities connections; (f) works to alter the course of, or otherwise interfere with, non-navigable rivers, streams or watercourses; (g) ramps, bridges and other means of access; (h) works for the provision of security and monitoring measures such as CCTV columns, lighting columns and lighting, cameras, lightning protection masts, weather stations, storage containers, communication infrastructure, and perimeter fencing; (i) improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks; (j) temporary footpath diversions and footpath enhancement; (k) signs, interpretation boards or any other information display board; (l) landscaping and biodiversity mitigation and enhancement measures and related works; (m) habitat creation and enhancement; (n) site establishments and preparation works including site clearance (including vegetation removal, demolition of existing buildings and structures); earthworks (including soil stripping and storage and site levelling) and excavations; the alteration of the position of services and utilities; and works for the protection of buildings and land; (o) works to maintain and repair streets and access roads; (p) tunnelling, boring and drilling works; and (q) other works to mitigate any adverse effects of the construction, maintenance, operation or decommissioning of the authorised development, and further associated development comprising such other works or operations as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the construction, operation and maintenance of the authorised development but only within the Order limits and which fall within the scope of the environmental impact assessment recorded in the environmental statement.