Notice publicising a proposed application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise a new solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating station (Lostrigg Solar) alongside the A595, between Little Clifton and Branthwaite, near Workington and Cockermouth.

Regulation 4 Infrastructure Planning (Applications Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009.

1. Notice is hereby given that RWE Renewables UK Solar and Storage Ltd (Company Number 14539260), whose registered office is Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, SN5 6PB (the Applicant), proposes to apply to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for the above-mentioned DCO.

2. When built, Lostrigg Solar would have an anticipated solar electricity generation capacity of up to 100 megawatts (MW) Alternating Current (AC), to be connected into the existing Electricity North West network. In doing so, the scheme has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of approximately 45,000 homes and businesses.

3. The proposed DCO will, among other things, authorise:

• Construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a solar PV electricity generating station with a capacity of over 50 MW;

• Associated and/or ancillary works including the construction of a co-located battery energy storage system, grid connection infrastructure including an onsite substation and underground cabling linking the intermediate substations to the Electricity North West network, landscaping, biodiversity and mitigation areas, access tracks, construction facilities, and the creation of permissive paths;

• The permanent compulsory acquisition (if required) of land and/or rights;

• The temporary possession of land;

• The overriding of easements and other rights over or affecting land;

• The application and/or disapplication of legislation; and

• Such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, licenses, property rights, permits and consents as are necessary and/or convenient.

4. The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the proposed works involved constitute development for which an EIA is required and the proposed application for a DCO will therefore be accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES). The ES will provide a detailed description of Lostrigg Solar and its likely significant environmental impacts. Information compiled to date about Lostrigg Solar’s likely significant effects will be set out in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and will also be made available for consultation.

Accessing consultation documents

5. The Applicant is undertaking a phase of statutory consultation on the proposals for Lostrigg Solar between Wednesday 19 March 2025 to Wednesday 30 April 2025.

6. The consultation materials comprise a PEIR, a Non-Technical Summary of the PEIR, a draft Design Approach Document, draft Policy Compliance Document, Consultation Leaflet which explains the consultation process and summarises the details of Lostrigg Solar including plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed DCO, and a Feedback Form inviting comments.

7. These consultation materials will be available free-of-charge on the Applicant’s website in the document library (www.LostriggSolar.com) to read, download and print between Wednesday 19 March 2025 to Wednesday 30 April 2025.

8. Consultation materials will also be provided in paper copy or on USB by request to the Applicant (contact details provided below). Please note that a reasonable charge up to £500 may apply to providing printed copies of the PEIR.

9. Consultation materials can also be made available by request in alternative formats, such as large print, translated language, audio or braille, by contacting the Applicant using the details below.

10. Copies of consultation materials (excluding the PEIR, DAD and PCD) will also be available to view free of charge, as per Regulation 4(3)(e), in person between Wednesday 19 March 2025 to Wednesday 30 April 2025 at the following Community Access Points in the vicinity of Lostrigg Solar. Please note that opening times have been checked, but they are dependent on the venue itself and may be subject to change.

11. The Applicant will host public information events to provide opportunities to view the relevant documentation and speak with members of the project team. The details of the events are as follows:

12. These public information events offer an opportunity to find out more about the Applicant’s updated proposals. Attendees do not need to register in advance to attend in-person events.

13. Attendees can register to attend the online community webinar by visiting the Applicant’s website or contacting the Applicant directly.

Responding to the consultation

14. Feedback can be provided through the Applicant’s website (www.LostriggSolar.com), where an online feedback form will be clearly linked.

15. Hard copy feedback forms will be available to collect at the aforementioned public information events and Community Access Points, to download from the Applicant’s website, and can be issued upon request to the contact details below. Completed feedback forms can be emailed or posted back to the Applicant at the details provided below or submitted at the public information events.

16. Any written responses can be sent to the Applicant by email to consultation@lostriggsolar.com or by post to FREEPOST LOSTRIGG SOLAR.

17. Any response or representation in respect of the proposed DCO must (i) be received by the Applicant on or before Wednesday 30 April 2025, (ii) be made in writing, (iii) state the grounds of the response or representation, and (iv) indicate who is making the response or representation.

18. The Applicant will consider and have regard to all responses received during this time before submitting its application for a DCO. Responses and representations will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Planning Inspectorate when deciding whether the DCO application can be accepted for examination. Therefore, in providing any comment, it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report and may be publicly available.

19. Personal details will be held securely and solely for purposes in connection with the statutory consultation, DCO process and further development of Lostrigg Solar. Outside of these purposes the Applicant may be required to provide personal details if the Planning Inspectorate requests original responses. Otherwise, personal details will not be disclosed to any third parties. For further details please see the Applicant’s Privacy Policy on their website (www.LostriggSolar.com). A copy of the privacy policy can be provided upon request at the contact details below.

Contacting the Applicant

20. The Applicant can be contacted by:

• Emailing: consultation@lostriggsolar.com

• Writing to: FREEPOST LOSTRIGG SOLAR

• Calling: 0808 164 0799 (open 09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday. A voicemail service will operate for out of office hours)