The Government has signed off development consent for Fenwick Solar Farm on the edge of Doncaster, with the Order taking legal effect on 11 March 2026. The decision, published on legislation.gov.uk and signed on 18 February by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirms the scheme as a nationally significant infrastructure project under the Planning Act 2008.

According to the Order, the project allows a ground‑mounted solar generating station rated above 50MW (alternating current), backed by a large battery energy storage system and an on‑site substation. Power can connect either by new 400kV underground cables into National Grid’s Thorpe Marsh substation or, alternatively, by linking to an existing on‑site 400kV overhead line tower-but not both. Trenchless crossings are permitted where needed to keep roads and watercourses open.

Roads and access will change during construction. The developer can temporarily close or re‑route streets and create new site entrances once a Construction Traffic Management Plan is approved. Traffic measures may include temporary signals, speed limits and banksmen, with four weeks’ notice to the police and highway authority and local site notices posted five working days before they take effect. Doncaster’s street works permit scheme is also modified so the council can’t block agreed conditions on moratorium grounds, speeding up coordination while keeping safety checks in place.

Public rights of way are protected but will be managed. Temporary closures and diversions are allowed, yet pedestrian access to homes must be maintained and any permanent stopping‑up requires a replacement path to be open first. Some routes can be used by site vehicles under strict controls, and the definitive map will be updated when permanent diversions open.

Jobs and local spend are written into the permission. Before works start the company must agree a Skills, Supply Chain and Employment Plan with City of Doncaster Council, setting out how residents and Northern firms will hear about contracts, apprenticeships and training tied to the build and long‑term operations.

Environmental duties are firm. The scheme must deliver at least 20% biodiversity net gain for habitats and hedgerows, and 10% for watercourses, using Defra’s July 2025 Statutory Metric. A Landscape and Ecological Management Plan is required, alongside soil and drainage strategies, archaeological investigation and construction and operational environmental management plans signed off by the council and, where relevant, the Environment Agency.

Safety and amenity conditions include a battery safety management plan-prepared with South Yorkshire Fire and the Environment Agency-and noise controls demonstrated through an operational noise assessment. Drainage consents, pollution prevention and protection for watercourses are embedded, with extra safeguards and approval routes for any works within 8–16 metres of main rivers and flood defences.

This is a long‑life asset with a clear exit route. The developer has five years from 11 March 2026 to commence works, and decommissioning must begin no later than 40 years after the site first exports power. A decommissioning environmental management plan, including resource and waste measures, must be agreed at least 12 months before equipment is taken out.

Land and compensation protections are set out in detail. The Order permits compulsory acquisition of land and rights, and temporary possession of land for compounds and access, but only within a five‑year window from the date the Order was made (18 February 2026). A financial guarantee or other security has to be in place before the company can exercise those powers, and disputes on compensation can go to the Upper Tribunal.

Utilities and strategic infrastructure are protected. National Grid Electricity Transmission, Northern Powergrid, Network Rail and the Exolum pipeline system each have bespoke ‘protective provisions’, meaning designs, clearances and any diversions must be agreed, with the developer covering reasonable costs and any necessary protective works to keep energy and rail assets operating safely.

Trees and hedgerows within the Order limits can be managed where essential for construction and safe operation, with compensation for any damage and consent needed for works inside the public highway. Tree preservation orders made after 31 October 2024 don’t block essential works linked to the project, but unnecessary damage is prohibited.

Residents will get a formal say as spades arrive. A Community Liaison Group must be set up before construction to handle local concerns-from HGV movements near Fenwick to the handling of footpath diversions and compound locations-and the council will publish the detailed traffic, rights of way and landscaping plans as each stage is cleared. Paper copies of the certified plans can be inspected at City of Doncaster Council’s Civic Building during working hours, as noted in the Order.