Gaining planning permission for Oaklands Solar Farm

The challenge

Oaklands Solar Farm will cover around 400 acres, crossing public roads and requiring access close to sensitive villages and along rural lanes. As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, an extensive environmental impact assessment was required to accompany an application for a Development Consent Order.

Determined by the Secretary of State, our work has been closely scrutinised through a planning inquiry. 

The solution

We worked closely with the project team over several years to develop a robust assessment and presentation of our case at inquiry.

This included:
• Significant stakeholder engagement
• Consideration of multiple scenarios to respond to changing context
• Working to defined timescales through the planning inquiry
• Engineering design drawings to confirm swept paths of larger vehicles including abnormal loads
• Production of a Traffic and Transport EIA chapter
• Development of a robust Construction Traffic Management Plan

Our assessment drew on best practice guidance published by the Project Director, Andy Ross, through his work with the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment.

The result

By presenting a robust case and working with the client and wider project team collaboratively, we went into the Public Inquiry with most issues resolved and secured through statements of common ground with key parties. 

The Development Consent Order was granted in 2025 with construction following shortly after. The mitigation that we have secured through our work will continue to ensure that the impact on local communities through construction and beyond is minimised.