BayWa r.e. has recently reached a major milestone in the UK: the company’s Oaklands Farm Solar Park project has officially received planning consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. Due to its size, the scheme is expected to deliver up to 150 MW of solar power and up to 50 MW of battery energy storage capacity, the planning application for the project had to go through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) framework. Oaklands Farm Solar Park is the 11th solar project that has received a Development Consent Order (DCO), and the first project to be consented under the 2024 National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure – an incredible milestone for BayWa r.e. and for the UK in its transition to a cleaner and greener energy future!
But what is the NSIP process?
The NSIP scheme was introduced under the Planning Act 2008 in England and Wales to streamline the planning process for large-scale infrastructure developments that are considered to be essential for the country, for example power stations, major road and rail schemes, as well as renewable energy projects, such as Oaklands Farm Solar Park. If approved, these types of developments receive a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the responsible Secretary of State, instead of a traditional planning permission from a local planning authority.
How does the NSIP process work?
The NSIP process is widely regarded as the UK’s most comprehensive planning route. It demands a high level of technical scrutiny, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. For Oaklands Farm Solar Park, the journey began in 2021:
Scoping:
BayWa r.e. submitted a Scoping Request to the Planning Inspectorate in 2021. The accompanying report set out the project proposal and corresponding environmental assessment methodologies, resulting in the Planning Inspectorate issuing a Scoping Opinion in October, which directed the preparation of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR).
PEIR and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
Our development team then commissioned studies and assessments to find ways to reduce, avoid and mitigate effects of the solar farm on the local environment. These findings were summarised initially within the PEIR, and the assessment was developed and refined throughout 2022 and 2023 to produce the first draft of the Environmental Statement, which is one of the main application documents.
Pre-application consultation:
As a responsible developer, effective and proactive engagement with the public has always been at the heart of BayWa r.e.’s operations. Our team had been reaching out to local stakeholders since early on in the project planning process to seek opinions on the proposal.
The formal consultation process was held in 2022, following strict DCO planning requirements. The feedback that could be gathered throughout informal and formal consultations was then used to update the proposal. These project refinements were subsequently presented to the public in another targeted consultation round in spring 2023.
Application:
The final Oaklands Solar Farm Park application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2024, and was accepted for Examination in March 2024.
Examination:
The appointed Examining Authority (“ExA”) examined the application during an intensive 6-month process of written questions and answers and technical and public hearings. The Examination for Oaklands Farm Solar Park closed in December 2024.
Recommendation:
The ExA then had 3 months to review, and in March 2025 provided a recommendation to grant the Development Consent Order in an official Recommendation Report to the Secretary of State5.
Decision:
The Secretary of State then also had 3 months to review, and on the 19 June 2025 provided the official decision letter, granting a Development Consent Order to the Oaklands Farm Solar Project.
The result of four years of technical assessments, extensive public consultations, project refinements according to feedback: Green light from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband.
This approval marks BayWa r.e.’s fourth successful planning consent in 2025, bringing our total consented solar capacity this year to date to 235 MW, with up to 50 MW of BESS also consented in 2025.
What does this mean for BayWa r.e.?
Navigating the complex NSIP system is not just a box ticking exercise. BayWa r.e.’s development team had to prove their strategic acumen, aligning technical planning, public consultation, environmental safeguarding, and stakeholder diplomacy with evolving government energy policy, all while managing monumental industry transformation from grid and planning reform. Their resilience and foresight paid off, delivering a detailed application that was 100% compliant with strict requirements and stood up to the Planning Inspectorate’s intense examination.
The NSIP process may be demanding, but it ensures that projects like Oaklands Farm Solar Park are built to the highest standards with lasting benefits for people, nature, and the planet.
