The Tillbridge Solar Order 2025

SCHEDULE 1 AUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT

Article 3 Interpretation 1 In this Schedule— “auxiliary equipment” means Low Voltage AC distribution board, Low Voltage DC distribution board, Battery and Charger panel, the power panel for security lighting, Protection and Control Panel and Telecom and Metering Panel and lightning protection; “battery modules” means equipment used for the storage of electrical energy; “battery energy storage systems” (BESS) means all components within Work No. 2; “BESS Enclosure” means the components detailed within Work No. 2(a) and (b); “BESS-Solar Station Compound” means all components within Work No. 2(a) to (e) and Work No. 1(b); “DC/DC converter” means an electrical device that converts the voltage of the direct current (DC) into another level of voltage; “electrical cables” means— cables of differing types and voltages installed for the purposes of conducting electricity, auxiliary cables, cables connecting to direct current (DC) boxes, earthing cables and optical fibre cables; and works associated with cable laying including jointing pits, hardstanding adjoining the jointing pits, link boxes, combiner boxes, fibre bays, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes, kiosks, marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, send and receive pits for horizontal directional drilling, trenching, lighting, and a pit or container to capture fluids associated with drilling; “equipment storage” means a total area of 1,200m ² for either— open storage covered by a canopy for weather protection; the use of storage containers; and/or the provision of parking areas and associated infrastructure; “inverter” means electrical equipment required to convert direct current power to alternating current; “mounting structure” means a rack made with galvanised steel and/or magnelis or other material designed to support the solar panels and mounted on piles driven into the ground, piles rammed into a pre-drilled hole, a pillar attaching to a steel ground screw, or pillars fixed to concrete foundations of concrete ballasts and includes drives and motors; “National Grid Cottam substation” means the existing 400kV substation at Cottam Power Station owned and operated by National Grid; “permissive paths” means new access tracks providing restricted public access within the Order limits along the route shown on the streets, rights of way and access plans; “solar farm control centre” means an operations and maintenance building; “solar panel” means a solar photovoltaic panel or module designed to convert solar irradiance to electrical energy; “Solar Station” means a station comprising inverters, transformers and switchgear with each component for each solar station either— located outside, with a concrete foundation slab for each of the inverters, transformers and switchgear and a levelling layer of thick sand within a concrete perimeter pavement; or housed together within a container sitting on a concrete foundation slab and a levelling layer of thick sand with a concrete perimeter pavement; “substation” means a compound containing electrical equipment required to switch, transform and convert electricity and provide reactive power compensation; “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 containing an electrical device to transform electricity to a different voltage. Authorised Development 2 (1) In the Districts of West Lindsey and Bassetlaw and in the Counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire 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. (2) The nationally significant infrastructure project comprises one generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of over 50 megawatts comprising 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 50 megawatts including— (a) solar panels fitted to mounting structures; and (b) solar stations; and associated development within the meaning of section 115(2) of the 2008 Act including— Work No. 2 – battery energy storage systems including— (a) battery modules; (b) an enclosure protecting the battery modules comprised in Work No. 2 (a) and ancillary equipment including liquid cooling systems and explosion prevention systems; (c) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) either housed within the enclosures comprised in Work No. 2(b), attached to the side or top of the enclosures, or located separately from but near to the enclosures; (d) monitoring and control systems housed within the enclosures for Work No. 2(b) or located separately in its own enclosure or control room; (e) DC/DC converter; (f) fire safety infrastructure, mitigation and control measures including— (i) fire service access, (ii) fire compartmentation measures, (iii) water storage tanks and hydrants, (iv) impermeable membrane surrounding Work No. 2(b) which directs fire water to a swale for containment and a sump and drain valve to allow the extraction of contaminated fire water, (v) hard standing to accommodate emergency vehicles, (vi) parking spaces; and (g) electrical cables connecting to Work No. 1(b), and Work No. 3. Work No. 3 – development of onsite substations and associated works including— (a) Works 3A – Substation A— (i) substation comprising main components of 400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear, 400kV Cable Sealing End, 400kV Surge Arrester, 400kV Post-Insulator, 2 x 400/33kV, 150/75/75 MVA Transformers, 400kV shunt reactor, 400kV gas insulated bus duct, 33kV Switchgear, 33kV Cabling and auxiliary equipment; (ii) substation buildings including building to accommodate 400kV switchgear, buildings to accommodate 33kV switchgear and associated control and protection equipment, control room building to accommodate protection and control cabinets and auxiliary boards and panels and a diesel generator; (iii) hardstanding, internal access road and parking areas; and (iv) a water storage structure (swales) to collect and treat surface water before discharge. (b) Works 3B – Substation B— (i) substation, comprising main components of 400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear, 400kV Cable Sealing End, 400kV Surge Arrester, 400kV Post-Insulator, 2 x 400/33kV, 150/75/75MVA Transformers, 400kV gas insulated bus duct, 33kV Switchgear, 33kV Cabling and auxiliary equipment; (ii) substation buildings including building to accommodate 400kV switchgear, buildings to accommodate 33kV switchgear and associated control and protection equipment, control room building to accommodate Protection and Control cabinets and auxiliary boards and panels and a diesel generator; (iii) hardstanding, internal access road and parking areas; and (iv) a water storage structure (swales) to collect and treat surface water before discharge. Work No. 4 – works in connection with high voltage electrical cabling including— (a) Work No. 4A – works to lay high voltage electrical cables including connecting Work No. 3A to Work No. 3B; (b) Work No. 4B – works to lay high voltage electrical cables, access and construction compounds for the electrical cables including— (i) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4A; (ii) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4C; (iii) laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (iv) joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes; (v) marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; (vi) tunnelling, boring and drilling works. (c) Work No. 4C – works to lay high voltage electrical cables, access and construction compounds for the electrical cables including— (i) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4B; (ii) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4D; (iii) laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (iv) joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes; (v) marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; and (vi) tunnelling, boring and drilling works. (d) Work No. 4D – works to lay high voltage electrical cables, access and construction compounds for the electrical cables including— (i) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4C; (ii) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4E; (iii) laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (iv) joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes; (v) marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; and (vi) tunnelling, boring and drilling works. (e) Work No. 4E – works to lay high voltage electrical cables, access and construction compounds for the electrical cables including— (i) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 4D; (ii) works to lay 400kV electrical cables connecting to Work No. 5; (iii) laying down of access tracks, ramps, footpaths, roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (iv) joint bays, link boxes, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes; (v) marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, communications chambers, fibre optic cables and lighting and other works associated with cable laying; and (vi) tunnelling, boring and drilling works. Work No. 5 – works to the National Grid Cottam substation to facilitate connection of the authorised development to the National Grid Cottam substation including— (a) busbars and connectors to connect to the existing busbar disconnectors at the National Grid substation; (b) a 400kV 3phase circuit breaker for control and protection of the outgoing circuit serving the authorised development; (c) a 3phase set of current transformers for protection of the new outgoing 400kV feeder circuit and the overlap with the National Grid system; (d) a 3phase high accuracy metering current and voltage transformer assembly for commercial metering of the connection; (e) a 3phase 400kV line disconnector/earth switch for isolation and earthing of the outgoing 400kV feeder circuit; (f) a 3phase set of 400kV high voltage cable sealing ends and cables connecting the National Grid substation with Work No. 4; and (g) protection and control works in the existing relay room or erection of new building to house protection and control works apparatus if required. Work No. 6 – works including— (a) electrical cables, including but not limited to electrical cables connecting Works No. 1, 2 and 3 to one another, connecting solar panels to one another, connecting the solar panels to the BESS, the solar stations and on-site substations, including tunnelling, boring and drilling works for trenchless crossings; and open trench crossings; (b) 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; (c) laying down of permissive paths; (d) hardstanding and parking areas; (e) sustainable drainage systems including swales, runoff outfalls, general drainage and irrigation infrastructure, systems and improvements or extensions to existing drainage and irrigation systems; (f) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; (g) works for the provision of security and monitoring measures such as CCTV columns, cameras, lighting columns and lighting, weather stations, perimeter fencing and communication infrastructure; (h) improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks; (i) works to maintain and repair streets and access roads; (j) laying down of internal access tracks, ramps, means of access, footpaths, crossing of watercourses and roads, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (k) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections including pressurised water pipes; and (l) other works to mitigate any adverse effects of the construction, maintenance, operation or decommissioning of the authorised development. Work No. 7 – construction and decommissioning compounds including— (a) areas of hardstanding; compacted ground or track matting; (b) parking areas; (c) site and welfare offices, canteens and workshops; (d) security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting; (e) areas to store materials, equipment, waste skips and spoil; (f) site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and (g) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections. Work No. 8 – works to develop a solar farm control centre and equipment storage including— (a) erection of a new building to accommodate the solar farm control centre including; (i) Central Control Room; (ii) Central CCTV and security control, including access gates to fenced areas; (iii) welfare facility for staff and subcontractors; (iv) parking area for staff and visitors; (v) independent power supply including emergency power supply; and (vi) equipment storage. Work No. 9 – areas of habitat management and protection including— (a) measures to enhance the existing woodland and hedgerows; (b) landscape and biodiversity enhancement measures; (c) habitat creation and management including earthworks and landscaping; (d) construction of drainage infrastructure and means of access; (e) laying down of internal access tracks, means of access and crossing of watercourses; and (f) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure. Work No. 10 – works to facilitate access to Work No. 1 to 9 including— (a) Work No. 10A – works to facilitate permanent access to Work Nos. 1 to 9 including— (i) alteration and improvement of existing road layout; (ii) creation of visibility splays; and (iii) street works to facilitate the construction of proposed accesses. (b) Work No. 10B – works to facilitate temporary construction and decommissioning access to Work Nos. 1 to 9 including— (i) creation of new access or improvement of existing access from the public highway; (ii) street works to facilitate the construction of proposed accesses and cable installation works; (iii) alteration of road layouts, including modifications to road markings and temporary removal of signage to facilitate abnormal load manoeuvres; (iv) alteration of road layout to facilitate localised carriageway widening for construction vehicles; and (v) alteration of road layout to facilitate the construction of passing bays. (c) Work No. 10C – works to facilitate permanent emergency access for fire service vehicles associated with Work No. 2 including— (i) alteration of existing road layout to facilitate the creation of new emergency accesses from the public highway including the creation of visibility splays; and (ii) street works to facilitate the construction of the proposed accesses. Work No. 11 – sensitive archaeological site protection and management including— (a) habitat creation and management; and (b) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure. In connection with and in addition to Work Nos. 1 to 10 further associated development within the Order limits, including— (a) works for the provision of fencing and security measures such as CCTV, columns, lighting, communication boxes, lightning protection masts and weather stations; (b) laying down of internal access tracks, ramps and span bridges, means of access, non-motorised links, footpaths and footways, laying and surfacing of permissive paths; (c) laying down of temporary footpath diversions, permissive paths and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards; (d) bunds, embankments, trenching and swales; (e) boundary treatments, including means of enclosure; (f) habitat creation and management including earthworks, landscaping, means of enclosure and the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure; (g) landscaping and other works to mitigate any adverse effects of construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised development; (h) 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; (i) works to alter the course of, or otherwise interfere with, non-navigable rivers, streams or watercourses; (j) works to the existing irrigation system and works to alter the position and extent of such irrigation system; (k) surface water drainage systems, storm water attenuation systems including storage basins, oil water separators, including channelling and culverting and works to existing drainage systems; (l) 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; (m) works required for the strengthening, improvement, maintenance, or reconstruction of any street; (n) tunnelling, boring and drilling works; (o) working sites in connection with the construction and decommissioning of the authorised development and its restoration; and (p) 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 or decommissioning of the authorised development but only within the Order limits and insofar as they are unlikely to give rise to any materially new or materially different environmental effects from those assessed in the environmental statement.