Gate Burton Energy Park Ltd plans to develop a solar farm and associated battery storage with a generation capacity of up to 500MW, sufficient to power over 160,000 homes.
This project is cross border with the main element of the solar farm being within West Lindsey District Council and the cabling element and connection to the national electricity grid being via a substation at the former Cottam Power Station, in Bassetlaw.
Scoping report
The scoping report for Gate Burton Energy Park was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on 20 December 2021.
Non-Statutory Consultation
Gate Burton Energy Park Ltd held a non-statutory consultation from 11 January 2022 to 18 February 2022. It gave more information about the proposed development for community input.
Statutory Consultation
On 12 May 2022, the Council responded to the Gate Burton Energy Park Ltd’s Draft Statement of Community Consultation providing feedback about ways to enhance engagement with local communities.
Consultation
The statutory consultation was held between 22 June 2022 - 5 August 2022. It set out the proposal and included the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR).
Examination
- The Council’s Adequacy of Consultation Representation, submitted on 13 February 2023 states that Gate Burton Energy Park Ltd complied with the consultation duties outlined in the Planning Act 2008.
- On 22 February 2023, the Secretary of State (c/o the Planning Inspectorate) accepted the application for the Gate Burton Energy Park project for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008.
- The examination took place between 4 July 2023 and 4 January 2024.
- The Council submitted the Local Impact Report to the Planning Inspectorate for DCO Examination on 18 May 2023.
- Council's Local Impact Report.
The Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Gate Burton Energy Park Ltd signed a Statement of Common Ground on 22 December 2023. It identified the areas of agreement and also any areas of disagreement. It also highlights the range of meetings the Council held with the applicant and other stakeholders throughout the application process.
Bassetlaw District Council Examination responses
In response to the Planning Inspector’s request, on 8 August 2023 the Council provided the following written representations prior to the hearings commencing:
Decision
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net consented the application on 12 July 2024. The Examining Authorities’ reports and the Secretary of State’s decision are available to view on the National Infrastructure Projects webpage.
Last Updated on Friday, January 9, 2026