R (Durham County Council) v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Subject Matter

PLANNING — Development — Planning permission — Planning permission granted for construction of solar farm and substation — Planning permission refused for second solar farm and associated infrastructure to be connected to first — Developers’ appeals raising issue whether solar farms together amounting to nationally significant infrastructure project (“NSIP”) requiring development consent under separate statutory regime — Appeal inquiry adjourned for application to court to determine whether development comprising NSIP — Whether court having power to make such determination — Whether cables and substation connecting two solar farms part of “generating station” — Whether second solar farm “extension” of first — Whether development comprising NSIP — Electricity Act 1989 (c 29), ss 36(9), 64(1) — Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c 8), s 78 — Planning Act 2008 (c 29), ss 14(1)(a), 15(1)(2)(c), 55(3)(c), 115(1), 235(1)

[2023] EWHC 1394 (Admin); [2023] PTSR 1735; [2023] WLR(D) 253, KBD