SI 2026/397 - The Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 397 INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING The Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026 Made - - - - 24th February 2026 Coming into force - - 25th February 2026 An application has been made, under paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008(1), to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011(2) (“the 2011 Regulations”) for non-material changes to the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023(3). The Secretary of State, having considered the application, the responses to the publicity and consultation required by Regulations 6 and 7 of the 2011 Regulations, has decided to make the changes on terms that in the opinion of the Secretary of State are not materially different from those proposed in the application. Accordingly, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraphs 2(1) and (9) of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008, makes the following Order. Citation and commencement 1. This Order may be cited as the Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026 and comes into force on 25th February 2026. Amendment to the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 2. The Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 (“the 2023 Order”) is amended as follows. Amendments to article 2 of the 2023 Order 3. In article 2, after the definition of “limits of deviation”, insert the following— ““main site construction works” means that part of the authorised development identified in work numbers 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10;”. 4. Substitute the definition of the “Park Farm planning permission” with the following— (1) 2008 c. 29. Paragraph 2 was amended by paragraph 4 of Schedule 8 to the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), by paragraphs 1 and 72 of Schedule 13 and Part 20 of Schedule 25 to the Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), and by section 28 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7). (2) S.I. 2011/2055, as amended by S.I. 2012/635 and S.I. 2015/760. There are other amending instruments but none are relevant. (3) S.I. 2023/734 as amended by S.I. 2023/1241.Document Generated: 2026-04-14 Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. ““Park Farm planning permission” means planning permission CHL 1890/87 granted by Essex County Council on 15 June 1990 (as amended) and/or planning permission CHL 1019/87 granted by Essex County Council on 15 June 1990 (as amended);”. Amendments to article 6 of the 2023 Order 5. In paragraph 6(4), for “the land at plot 1/2C”, substitute “the Order land”. 6. After paragraph 6(4), insert the following— “(5) Regulation 6 of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997(4) is modified so as to read for the purposes of this Order only as if there were inserted after paragraph (1)(j) the following— or (k) for carrying out development which has been authorised by the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023.”. Amendment to Schedule 1 to the 2023 Order 7. In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, in paragraph (i) of the description of Work No. 4A, for “one 400 kilovolt cable circuit” substitute “up to two 400 kilovolt cable circuits”. Amendments to Schedule 2 to the 2023 Order 8. Paragraph 9 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 is amended as follows. 9. For sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) substitute the following— “(2) The landscape and ecological management plan submitted under sub-paragraph (1) in respect of the main site construction works must include details of how the plan will secure a minimum of 87% biodiversity net gain during the operation of the authorised development, calculated using The Biodiversity Metric 4.0, published by Natural England on 20 April 2023 (or such other biodiversity metric approved by the relevant planning authority in consultation with the relevant statutory nature conservation body). (3) Any and all landscape and ecological management plans submitted under sub- paragraph (1) must include details of— (a) how the landscaping and ecological measures will be managed and maintained during the operational life of the solar farm works and grid connection works to the date on which the decommissioning environmental management plan is implemented pursuant to requirement 20 (decommissioning and restoration); and (b) how any approaches and measures in the biodiversity design strategy have been incorporated into the design of the solar farm works and grid connection works. (4) The landscape and ecological management plan must be implemented as approved.” 10. After sub-paragraph (4), insert the following— “(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), “commence” includes site clearance involving vegetation removal.”. (4) S.I. 1997/1160, as amended by S.I. 2015/377. 2Document Generated: 2026-04-14 Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero John Wheadon Head of Energy Infrastructure Planning Delivery & Innovation 24th February 2026 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 3Document Generated: 2026-04-14 Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order) This Order amends the Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023, a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008, following an application made in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011 for a non-material amendment under paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008. This Order amends article 2, article 6, Schedule 1 and part 2 of Schedule 2 of the 2023 Order relating to various matters. 4