About us
Cleve Hill Solar Park Ltd is planning to construct a solar and energy storage park on the north Kent coast. Cleve Hill Solar Park will generate renewable power through photovoltaic panels, providing clean power to UK homes. The company is expecting to be on site to do its wildlife protection work from spring 2022 and Construction start is scheduled for summer 2022.
In October 2021 Quinbrook acquired Cleve Hill Solar Park from the previous owners, Hive Energy. Hive had also previously acquired Wirsol Energy’s interests earlier in the summer, which means Quinbrook is now the sole owner of the project.
Quinbrook is an ESG-focused global investment manager with a specialist focus on low carbon and renewable energy supply, storage, grid stability and related assets and businesses.
Quinbrook was established in July 2015 by David Scaysbrook and Rory Quinlan (the “Founders”) who have invested in renewables for over two decades and in power infrastructure more broadly since the early 1990s. As fund managers, they have led investment teams and portfolio companies that have invested over $2.5 billion of equity in over 200 low carbon, renewable, storage and grid support projects covering a wide spectrum of technologies.
Recently, the project team has submitted the relevant DCO requirements to Swale Borough Council. The Schedule of Submissions Table below shows when each document was submitted to Swale Borough Council, and how you can leave your comments.
Please view here a letter dated 1st February 2024 regarding abnormal load deliveries to Cleve Hill Solar Park.
Schedule of Submissions
Introducing the project
Cleve Hill Solar Park is a solar and energy storage park situated on the north Kent coast which, when built, could provide enough affordable and clean electricity to power over 91,000 homes. The project will comprise of an array of solar photo-voltaic modules, energy storage and associated development infrastructure.
The site is located one mile northeast of Faversham, 3 miles west of Whitstable and situated closest to the village of Graveney.
Due to the capacity of the solar park exceeding 50 megawatts (MW), the project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and was granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in May 2020.
Benefits of the Solar Park
Cleve Hill Solar Park has the potential to power over 91,000 homes.
Subsidy-free electricity, without public financial support.
Over £1 million of income will be generated per year for local authorities to invest in improving local services.
A net biodiversity benefit on site of 65%.
A dedicated Habitat Management Area of 56 hectares (ha) (138 acres) for bird species including Lapwing, Brent Goose, Golden Plover and Marsh Harrier.
Energy storage technology, providing power to people’s homes when it’s needed the most.
FAQ's
Why do we need Cleve Hill Solar Park?
All coal fired power stations have to close by 2025 meaning over a quarter of the UK’s energy generation needs to be replaced. The UK’s climate change ambitions are amongst the highest in Europe and require achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
By 2050 we could also use 80% more electricity than we do today. For example, the growth in electric vehicle ownership has grown thirty-fold and is set to rise with the abolition of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040.
Currently the UK's electricity price is the 2nd highest in Europe, meaning that we need to find ways of generating more affordable, renewable and clean electricity such as that generated by Cleve Hill Solar Park.
With on-site energy storage, the project will be able to provide clean power to people’s homes when they need it the most. Energy storage helps consumers save money by having more control of their energy use.
What is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project?
Due to the capacity of the solar and energy storage park exceeding 50MW, the project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
The development consenting regime for NSIP projects comes under the Planning Act 2008 and the application process is known as the Development Consent Order or ‘DCO’. DCO applications must be made to the Planning Inspectorate who in the case of energy related development acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Any final consent award is granted by the Secretary of State for BEIS, which is currently Alok Sharma.
DCO applications cannot be determined by the local authority, although the local authorities are involved throughout the planning process and maintain an important role during the DCO application process. The local authority is the responsible planning authority post-consent of the project.
What application was submitted?
An application for a Development Consent Order was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, who acts on behalf of BEIS, on 16 November 2018. In May 2020, the Secretary of State for BEIS granted development consent for the project.
When was the Examination held?
The examination phase of the project took place between 30 May 2019 and 30 November 2019 and allowed for key issues of the application to be looked at by the Examining Authority.
This included a series of public hearings in and around Faversham and Sittingbourne which covered a range of key issues on environmental matters. This enabled the developers and stakeholders to debate and respond to various topic areas including wildlife, traffic, visual impacts and battery safety.
All contributions to the Examination are available to view via the Planning Inspectorate's Examination Library here.
When was the decision made?
A decision on the DCO application was made in May 2020. The Planning Inspectorate issued its recommendation following the end of its examination on 28 February 28, 2020. The Secretary of State for BEIS then had three months from this date to provide his ruling to grant or refuse development consent. You can read his decision letter granting the project development consent here.
How will the local area benefit?
Cleve Hill Solar Park could bring £27.25 million investment to local authorities over a minimum period of 25 years. As a significant local business, Cleve Hill Solar Park Ltd will be contributing substantial business rates in excess of £1 million on an annual basis to the local councils.
In addition to this, an Outline Skills, Supply Chain and Employment Plan (OSSCEP) has been produced to help secure economic benefits of the solar park to the local area. This includes opportunities for the involvement of local companies, the ability of local residents to access employment opportunities and the ability of research organisations to use the site to enable research and innovation in the renewables sector.
What will be included in Cleve Hill Solar Park?
Cleve Hill Solar Park includes a solar array, which will provide electricity to the national grid to power UK homes. The solar panels will have an East-West layout in order to maximise the output of the solar farm throughout the day.
There will be electrical connection infrastructure to connect the solar park to the existing Cleve Hill Substation. This is situated adjacent to the proposed solar park.
It is also proposed to include an energy storage solution, so that Cleve Hill Solar Park can store the Sun’s power and distribute it to the grid when it is needed the most.
Land will be provided for ecological mitigation and enhancement, with particular consideration given to bird species and dual land use such as lowland meadow and sheep grazing. In total, of the developable area contained in the site, only 45.5% will be underneath solar panels.
How will the Solar Park connect to the national grid?
Cleve Hill Solar Park will require electrical connection infrastructure and a substation, which we intend to connect to the existing National Grid substation. Adjoining the site is a large 150/400kV electricity substation, which serves the London Array offshore wind farm beyond the mouth of the Thames Estuary to the north. Eight 400kV pylons and power lines currently cross the site.
Has safety been considered in the energy storage proposals?
Yes. We have been working closely with an industry leading battery supplier for the project’s energy storage proposals and we have provided reassurances on safety standards in response to a desire for further clarity.
In conjunction with these experts we have produced an Outline Battery Safety Management Plan which has been consulted on and agreed with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. This is secured as a requirement in the draft DCO.
How do the proposals work with plans for managed realignment?
Following extensive engagement with the Environment Agency (EA), we have agreed to a time limited consent for the solar park. This is dependent on whether the EA can deliver the managed realignment programme after 40 years of the solar park being in operation. This will enable the area to be included in future plans for managed realignment known as the Medway Estuary and Swale Strategy (MEASS).
Viewpoint 2 - Visualisation of proposed Cleve Hill Solar Park in the Summer of Year 10.
Viewpoint 22 - Visualisation of proposed Cleve Hill Solar Park in the Summer of Year 10.
DCO application
Following the submission of a DCO application for Cleve Hill Solar Park on 16 November 2018, the application was accepted for Examination by the Planning Inspectorate, who acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for BEIS, on Friday 14 December 2018.
The examination phase of the project took place between 30 May 2019 and 30 November 2019. This featured eleven hearings held across July and September. The hearings covered a range of key issues, enabling the developers, statutory bodies, community groups and members of the public to debate and respond to various topics including wildlife, traffic, visual impacts and energy storage.
The full suite of documentation that was included as part of the Examination, including full transcripts of the hearings, can be viewed and downloaded from the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Library here.
On 28 May 2020, the Secretary of State for BEIS made the decision to grant development consent for Cleve Hill Solar Park. You can read his decision letter, and the recommendation report from the Examining Authority here.
Consultation
Since November 2017, we have met with people from across the community at our consultation events and meetings. As set out in our Consultation Report, we have met with near neighbours, local action groups, community groups, local businesses and elected representatives to share and receive feedback on our proposals..
In response to the feedback received to our proposals, we have made a number of changes to the project, some of which include:
Reducing the total area of the solar park covered by solar panels to 45.5 % of the developable area. Leaving the remaining arable land to be managed for biodiversity benefits.
Retaining a dual-use of the land such as lowland meadow and sheep grazing.
A bespoke landscape and biodiversity management plan, designed in collaboration with Natural England, Kent Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and the Environment Agency, which will allow the solar park to deliver a 65% biodiversity net gain on site.
Reduction of overall traffic numbers from the number identified in the Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), and developing a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) which incorporates comments and concerns for congestion and traffic numbers.
Adding 3.64 km of native hedgerow screening planting across the site to protect views and improve biodiversity.
Details of how we consulted, including how we have responded to feedback, is included in the Consultation Report and its associated Appendices. You can view these Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Library, or our Downloads section below.
If you require any guidance on the documents included as part of the DCO application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Downloads
Our latest newsletter
Section 134 documents
Previous publications
Briefing Pack - Autumn 2017
SoCC - November 2017
Leaflet - November 2017
Event Materials - Winter 2017
Phase One Update - January 2018
FAQs - March 2018
Community Newsletter - May 2018
Phase Two Community Project Update - August 2018
Community Newsletter - November 2018
Community Newsletter - May 2019
Community Newsletter - July 2019
Community Newsletter - October 2022
Community Newsletter - January 2023
Community Newsletter - February 2023
Community Newsletter - August 2023
Community Newsletter - November 2023
Phase Two formal consultation
Consultation Leaflet = May 2018
Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) - May 2018
Visualisations - May 2018
Site Plan - May 2018
PEIR Non Technical Summary - May 2018
Feedback Form - May/June 2018
Event Advert - May/June 2018
Event Materials - May/June 2018
Section 48 Notice - June 2018
DCO application documents
Application Forms - November 2018
Plans - November 2018
Development Consent Order - November 2018
Compulsory Acquisition Info - November 2018
Reports and Statements - November 2018
Environmental Statement - November 2018
Other Documents - November 2018
Our traffic survey raw data
Traffic Survey Raw Data - 2017./2018
Get in touch
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to find out more information about Cleve Hill Solar Park. You can contact our Community Relations Team and find out more by using the details below.
Email: info@clevehillsolar.com
Freephone: 0800 328 2850
Freepost: Cleve Hill Solar
Online: www.clevehillsolar.com
Twitter: @clevehillsolar
For investor enquiries, please contact investorenquiries@clevehillsolar.com or click here.
For supply chain enquiries, please contact info@clevehillsolar.com
Should you require any documents in large print, audio or braille then please contact us at the details provided.