Little Crow
INRG SOLAR (Little Crow) Ltd is proposing to develop a renewable led energy scheme near Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire. The site sits between the British Steel works at Scunthorpe and the village of Broughton. The development is called 'Little Crow Solar Park'.
The development will have a design capacity in excess of 50MWp of photovoltaic panels and associated development. This would be enough to power approximately 45,000 - 60,000 homes a year, more than half of the households in the North Lincolnshire area.
About Us
Founded in 2009, INRG SOLAR LTD. has established itself as one of the largest developers of solar parks in the United Kingdom, responsible for the development of 30 solar parks with a capacity of almost 300 Megawatts (MW) across the United Kingdom and providing enough clean electricity to power over 100,000 UK homes.
INRG SOLAR LTD. is the promoter of LITTLE CROW SOLAR PARK. Further information on INRG SOLAR LTD. is available at our website www.inrgsolar.com
Where is Little Crow Solar Park?
Little Crow Solar Park is in Lincolnshire and is situated 2.5km northwest of the village of Broughton and directly to the east of the British steelworks at Scunthorpe.
Proposed Site Layout
The main elements of the proposal are the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar park with an intended design capacity in excess of 50MWp (Megawatts peak) with associated development.
The photovoltaic panels would be laid out in straight arrays set at an angle of c. 15 degrees from east to west across the field enclosures. The distance between the arrays would respond to topography but would typically be between 3.5 metres to 6 metres. The top north edges of the panels would be up to a maximum of 3.5m above ground level and the lower edges of the panels would be a minimum of 0.7 meters above ground level. The arrays would be static.
The development also includes a package of landscape. ecological and biodiversity benefits. Land between and beneath the panels would be used for biodiversity enhancements and seasonal sheep grazing.
It is proposed that construction traffic will arrive from the M180 junction 4, the A15, the A18, the B1208 and the B1207 to the site access. No construction vehicles associated with the development proposal would travel through Broughton.
What is Little Crow Solar Park?
The main elements of the development are the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar park with a maximum design capacity in excess of 50MWp with associated development.
The photovoltaic panels would be laid out in straight arrays set at an angle of c. 15 degrees from east to west across the field enclosures. The distance between the arrays would respond to topography but would typically be between 3.5 metres to 6 metres. The top north edges of the panels would be up to a maximum of 3.5m above ground level and the lower edges of the panels would be a minimum of 0.7 meters above ground level. The arrays would be static. A containerised battery storage capacity installation and an onsite electrical substation to facilitate a connection to the local electricity network is also proposed.
An operational lifespan of 35 years would be sought from the initial export of power from the site.
The development also includes a package of landscape. ecological and biodiversity benefits. Land between and beneath the panels would be used for biodiversity enhancements and seasonal sheep grazing.
Our ambition is to deliver a scheme that helps to address national and local electricity needs by providing a cost effective and renewable source of clean energy for current and future generations.
By virtue of its potential generating capacity, which stands at over 50MW, this development constitutes a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). Therefore, instead of applying to the North Lincolnshire Council for Planning Permission, the applicant must apply to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order (DCO). The process for applying for a DCO is set out in the Planning Act 2008.
- Significant levels of annual income will be generated for Lincolnshire to invest in local services over the projected lifespan of the solar park.
- Little Crow Solar Park would save annually 64,500 – 86,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
- Little Crow Solar Park would provide much-needed power supply into the local network to support the development of local business.
- Ensure security of renewable energy supply in the Lincolnshire area through more local energy generation.
- Solar is safe and UK energy supply will be less reliant on fossil fuel based forms of energy.
- Through bio diversity enhancements a net bio diversity gain is anticipated across the site.
- The land will continue in agriculture and will be grazed by sheep for the duration of the solar park.
- Our proposal includes battery storage. Solar power can be stored through battery storage, enabling efficient distribution of generated power to the grid .
- Due to the recognised effects of global warming and the age of our largely fossil fuel based electricity generation supply, the UK has committed to significantly increase the growth of renewable electricity generation whilst maintaining the security of supply and wholesale energy prices at acceptable levels.
- The proposed Little Crow Solar Park aims to provide an essential part of the solution to the UK’s future clean energy requirements.
- Little Crow Solar Park is proposing to use storage battery technologies, which would store some of the power produced and export it to the grid.
- Almost 25% of the existing UK’s electricity generating capacity is due to close by 2024. There is a current need for new, clean, dependable and cost effective sources of electricity generation to keep UK lights on. In addition, the UK’s stated climate change targets are transforming the UK’s power supply to modern and clean forms of power generation. As part of this transformation, we will need cost effective solar power to meet our clean energy targets.
Little Crow Solar Park could bring substantial investment to Lincolnshire over a minimum period of 25 years. As a significant local business, Little Crow Solar Park will be contributing substantial business rates on an annual basis to the local councils.
Little Crow Solar Park will generate significant revenue to the local authority over the thirty five year lifetime of the solar park.
Local business will benefit from the construction and maintenance of the solar park.
- Proposals for the Solar Park include a solar array, which will provide clean renewable electricity to the local electricity network to power UK homes.
- There will be electrical connection infrastructure to connect the solar park to the existing local 132kV electrical network on site. This includes an electrical substation to facilitate the grid connection and is situated within the proposed solar park.
- It is proposed to include an energy storage solution so that Little Crow Solar Park can store the Sun’s power and distribute it to the grid efficiently.
- Land will be provided for ecological mitigation and enhancement, with particular consideration to flora and fauna.
Below is a summary of the DCO process:
- Pre-application– INRG Solar (Little Crow) Ltd notifies and consults the public, statutory consultees and those with an interest in the affected land on its proposed application.
- Submission– INRG Solar (Little Crow) Ltd will review the feedback received during consultation and finalise the proposals, taking the feedback into account. A DCO application will then be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
- Acceptance– After the application is submitted, the Planning Inspectorate will decide whether it is suitable for examination.
- Pre-examination – If accepted for examination, there will be an opportunity for people to register their interest in the application with the Planning Inspectorate. Anyone registered will be kept informed of the progress of the application by the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning Inspectorate will invite all those registered to a preliminary meeting that will explain the timetable and format of the examination.
- Examination – The examination lasts six months. People who have registered their interests will be able to take part in the examination and send their comments to the Planning Inspectorate.
- Decision – Following the examination, the Planning Inspectorate will make its recommendation on the application to the Secretary of State over a three month period, and the Secretary of State has a further three months to issue it’s final decision as to whether consent is to be granted.
Further information on the Planning Inspectorate and the planning process can be found here https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk
In advance of an application for a DCO being submitted, the Planning Act 2008 requires the applicant to consult widely. Our second phase of consultation has been undertaken and took place from Monday 3rd December 2018 to Monday 4th March 2019 in accordance with the Little Crow Solar Park Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC).
Community events were held on:
Monday 16th January 2018 Appleby Village Hall, School Lane Scunthorpe DN15 0AS
Tuesday 17th January Scunthorpe Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe DN16 1AB
Wednesday 18th January Broughton Village Hall, 59 High Street, Broughton. DN20 0JX
Tuesday 11th December 2018 Appleby Village Hall, School Lane Scunthorpe DN15 0AS
Wednesday 12th December 2018 Scunthorpe Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe DN16 1AB
Monday 17th December 2018 Broughton Village Hall, 59 High Street, Broughton. DN20 0JX
Each Session was open from 2.30pm until 7.00pm
Our consultation events gave the opportunity to view our full suite of consultation materials on the detailed proposals. These consultation materials included:
- Little Crow Solar Park Preliminary Environmental Information Report
- Little Crow Solar Park PEIR Non-Technical Summary
- Little Crow Solar Park Statement of Community Consultation
- Public Exhibition Display Boards
- Community materials including maps, technical reports and plans that can be reviewed at the event.
- Copies of the section 48 notice (copy of our advert in the local newspaper)
- Latest edition of the Project Newsletter
These documents were available to view at the following locations during the consultation period.
- Scunthorpe central library
- Park library
- Bottesford library
- North Lincolnshire Civic Centre
All these documents are available to download from this website (see ‘CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS’ tab below).
Little Crow Solar Park is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), as it is proposed to have a generating capacity exceeding 50MW. We will be applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) through the Planning Inspectorate. The application will be determined by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
An application was made to the Planning Inspectorate in early December 2020. The application was accepted on December 23rd 2020. Further updates will be made available on this website.
Latest News
- Our formal submission was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate on the 23rd of December 2020. Read the letter here, ( EN010101-000339-201223_EN010101_Notification of Decision to Accept Application.pdf (planninginspectorate.gov.uk) ).
- Interested parties can now register their interest and submit representation on the Planning Inspectorate’s website (Planning Inspectorate – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). Registration closes on Friday 26th February at 23.59. A registration form can be obtained via the following link Little Crow Solar Park | National Infrastructure Planning (planninginspectorate.gov.uk)
- The Examining Authority has made the decision to close the Examination of the Little Crow Solar Park project early. The Examination will close on Tuesday 5th October 2021