Message from the Kingsway Solar Community Action Group

 

Dear Parish Councils,

Parish Councils need to be ready – perhaps in April – to encourage their parishioners to register as interested parties with the  Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and to send their objections to the proposed development to PINS, as described below. The more people who do this, the more the Planning Inspectorate will understand the strength of feeling against Kingsway.

 

 

Kingsway Solar Farm – What happens next?

If Kingsway sticks to its current timetable, the next step is for them to submit their Development Consent Order (DCO) to the  Planning Inspectorate. This is expected at the end of March 2026.

Once submitted, the Planning Inspectorate appoints one or more Inspectors and has 28 days to decide whether the application is “fit to be accepted”. This is largely a technical, box-ticking stage, and there’s no formal role for objectors at this point.

If the application is accepted, the process moves into the Pre-Examination phase. This is where the voice and actions of objectors really starts to matter.

Parish Councils, community groups and individuals who wish to oppose Kingsway Solar Farm  will need to register as “Interested Parties”. When registering you send a short comment – called a ‘Relevant Representation’ –  that outlines your objections to the proposed development. You may have done this before when responding to Kingsway’s Consultations, but this is your first opportunity to tell the Planners what you think.

 

Registering as an Interested Party (IP) and sending your Relevant Representation (RR) is quick and simple — you don’t need to be an expert. The more people who register, the more attention planning inspectors must give to community concerns.

 

From that stage on, written submissions and evidence are critical. This is where the substance of the challenge is built. Community involvement counts, but only if it’s organised, well advised and focused on the strongest planning arguments.

 

The Parish Council Alliance, representing over 20,000 impacted parishioners, intends to act collectively with KSCA and is being represented by Richard Buxton Environmental & Public Law, with a barrister presenting arguments at hearings.

 

To stay informed, please join as a KSCA member https://kingswaysolarcommunityaction.co.uk/how-to-join-us/
To support the ongoing legal work, pledges can be made via CrowdJustice, a crowdfunding platform for legal cases. A small administration fee applies, and any unused funds are returned to the donor (e.g. if Kingsway decides to end their development). The current target is a further £50,000 by the end of March.
To make a pledge, go to: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/kingswaysolarcommunitylegalaction/

In short: the real fight lies ahead — and preparation is everything.

Read more here: https://kingswaysolarcommunityaction.co.uk/kingsway-solar-farm-where-things-stand-and-what-happens-next/