Ecotricity | Heckington Fen Solar Park

Project showcase

Ecotricity | Heckington Fen Solar Park

How we advised Ecotricity on the Development Consent Order (DCO) for Heckington Fen Solar Park

About the project

Ecotricity, the UK's greenest energy company, has been granted planning consent in January 2025 to build Heckington Fen Solar Park – with nearly 1 GW of energy infrastructure approved onsite.

Scaling up renewable energy generation

Heckington Fen Solar Park is set to become a significant contributor to the UK's renewable energy landscape and power close to 200,000 homes. This development marks an exciting step towards delivering UK government targets for scaling up renewable energy generation in the drive to net zero.

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project

As the proposed generation capacity exceeds 50 megawatts (MW), Heckington Fen Solar Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and required consent from the Secretary of State. In addition to the 'on-site' solar and energy storage infrastructure, it incorporates a 9km, underground grid connection, and a National Grid Electricity Transmission substation extension.

Osborne Clarke's role

Osborne Clarke advised Ecotricity on the Development Consent Order (DCO) with a full-scale planning and consenting service across a period of three years.

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Managing multiple stakeholders

Our team worked closely with various stakeholders, including National Grid, Network Rail, and other infrastructure projects (Triton Knoll and Viking Link), to ensure a smooth project execution.

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Navigating a complex process

Osborne Clarke's lawyers were instrumental in navigating the complex DCO process. The team led the planning strategy from the pre-application and optioneering stage, into the Examination with advocacy at the public hearings (tackling novel and groundbreaking issues in respect of archaeology, agricultural land, and cumulative impacts), through to achieving development consent. 

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Successful resolution

We helped to enable the successful resolution of matters, closing the Examination one month ahead of schedule. Our approach emphasised a cohesive, partner-led team providing practical, commercial, and pragmatic advice. 

Working with Osborne Clarke has been hugely beneficial to the project and the team. They were consistently diligent in their review, pragmatic in their approach, and fully understood the project and its requirements Laura White - Senior Development Manager, Ecotricity
...The team worked well with our consultants, and with external stakeholders to achieve deadlines. Communication was clear, and this was particularly demonstrated during the Examination. Their individual subject areas complemented each other well. Laura White - Senior Development Manager, Ecotricity

Summary

Large-scale infrastructure projects

A project of this calibre demonstrates our capability to handle large-scale infrastructure projects in the pursuit of a sustainable and greener future.

Full-service team

We offered an expert full-service team that worked seamlessly together across planning, construction and finance.

Supporting the energy transition 

Our ongoing collaboration with Ecotricity showcases our commitment to supporting the energy transition, contributing to the UK's net zero goals. 

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