The Byers Gill Solar application has today been granted development consent by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The application will consist of a proposed solar farm with over 50MW capacity, Solar PV modules and associated mounting structures, inverters, transformers, switch gear and control equipment, a substation, energy storage equipment and underground on and off-site cabling.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by RWE Renewables UK Solar and Storage Limited on 9 February 2024 and accepted for examination on 8 March 2024.
Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 23 April 2025.
This is the 96th energy application out of 160 applications examined to date and was again completed by the Planning Inspectorate within the statutory timescale laid down in the Planning Act 2008.
Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this six-month examination.
The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.
The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.
This decision was made by Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh on behalf of the Energy Secretary's legal authority.
Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or
