Update - January 2025
East Pye Solar reaches development milestone with submission of Scoping Report
Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consultation with expert bodies.
The Planning Inspectorate published the Scoping Report on their webpage for East Pye Solar, available here.
East Pye Solar Limited has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping report for East Pye Solar to the Planning Inspectorate. This marks the next milestone in the development of the proposals for the Project after the first phase of community consultation which took place in Winter 2024.
The proposals for East Pye Solar include the installation of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, onsite battery energy storage system and installation of an underground cable that will connect the site to the new National Grid Substation in Great Moulton. Subject to being agreed by planning authorities, East Pye Solar could deliver up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, enough to power over 115,000 homes annually.
Samantha Jones, Project Development Manager, East Pye Solar said:
“We are pleased to reach the next milestone in the development of our proposals for East Pye Solar. The Scoping Report gives more detail on the Project and sets out the environmental criteria we’ll use to evaluate the potential effects of any development. Our findings will guide actions to reduce and manage impacts on the local landscape and environment, and seek to address residents’ concerns.”
“We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the initial consultation. Your feedback highlighted how important the area is and the need to protect treasured views and walks, wildlife, and local ecology. All points raised are reflected in this Environmental Scoping Report and will be factored into our development of the Project.
“We will continue to undertake further environmental assessments ahead of the publication of a Preliminary Environmental Information Report, anticipated for Summer this year, ahead of the second phase of community consultation.
“Continued engagement with members of the local community, as well as with key organisations and statutory stakeholders, is crucial to this process and we look forward to maintaining our commitment to meaningful consultation throughout.”
EIA Scoping Process
Over the next 42 days, the Planning Inspectorate will consult on the East Pye Solar proposals with stakeholders including Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk Council, Statutory Environmental Bodies (SEBs), Parish Councils and other groups with specific expertise related to environmental protection. This feedback will then be used to provide East Pye Solar with a Scoping Opinion setting out key areas that must be addressed as part of the application for development consent for East Pye Solar.
Scoping Opinion, together with the findings from ongoing environmental surveys, assessments and design development work, will inform the development of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). This is a core document that informs the second phase of consultation.
Next steps
The second phase of consultation is expected to take place in Summer 2025 to provide people with another opportunity to comment on proposals for East Pye Solar ahead of an application for development consent being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
During this statutory consultation, the community will be asked to share their views on the design of the Project including where equipment is located; the route of the underground cable connection between the Project and the new National Grid substation; construction; and the measures being put in place to reduce the Project’s impact on the local area.
*Note (25.02.2025): On 25 February 2025 the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) published the Scoping Opinion for East Pye Solar on the PINS website, which you can read by clicking here.
People wishing to receive updates and information about the ongoing development process and future consultation for East Pye Solar are encouraged to register their details with us here.