East Pye Solar – Island Green Power. Status: Pre-Application
East Pye Solar Ltd, part of Island Green Power, is introducing plans for a utility scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) on land near Long Stratton in South Norfolk, England.
The Project looks to deliver up to 500 megawatts (MW) of homegrown, renewable electricity through ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. We are advised this would be enough electricity to power approximately 115,000 homes and businesses annually. The scheme comprises of the construction, operation and maintenance, decommissioning of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) generating station and associated development, including:
• A BESS;
• A number of 132kV substations location within the Solar PV Sites;
• Two 400kV substations, one adjoining the BESS site and one within Site 5; and
• A new National Grid substation operated by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc.
The scheme also involves grid connection infrastructure including works to the existing 400k overhead line and associated pylon(s), which may include relocation or moving existing pylons, new pylons, temporary replacement pylons and restringing of overhead line. Undergrounding electricity cabling will run between the Solar PV sites within the Cable Route Corridor to connect to the BESS and National Grid Substation.
The operational phase of the scheme is expected to be 60 years. The project site currently being considered to host the Solar PV, BESS, substations, cable route corridor and associated equipment are at multiple locations, amounting to approximately 2,232 hectares (ha) of land.
Link to the developer’s website: Project overview — East Pye Solar
Pre Application Consultations
Phase One: 23 October to 6 December 2024
Phase One consultation on the Project launched on Wednesday 23 October 2024. The aim of this Phase One consultation is for Island Green Power to introduce themselves, present early-stage proposals, and receive feedback from the community to help identify and understand any local impacts. The Phase One consultation ran between 23 October and 6 December 2024.
Scoping
The Developer has submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping request to the Planning Inspectorate (PIN’s) and the Scoping Opinion was issued on the 25 February 2025. Details can be seen on PIN’s website Documents | East Pye Solar
Statutory Consultations: 18 June to 6 August 2025
The Statutory Consultation took place between June and August 2025
Likely Development Consent Order (DCO) application submission Q4 (October to Dec this year)
If you have any questions about these proposals, please do not hesitate to get in touch with East Pye Solar via the details below.
Contact details
Email: info@eastpyesolar.co.uk
Phone: 0808 281 3175
Freepost: FREEPOST East Pye Solar (no stamp or further address details required)