UK Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has delayed a consent decision on Tribus Energy and PS Renewables’ 500MW Sunnica solar project in England for the second time.
A ruling on the Development Consent Order application had been due yesterday (7 December), however the Planning Inspectorate has confirmed the DESNZ chief will be setting a new deadline.
A new date for the decision will be announced “as soon as possible”.
No reason for the delay has been provided.
It is the second time Coutinho has pushed back her ruling on the project, which had initially been due in late September.
A spokesperson for Sunnica said: “We note that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has extended the decision period for Sunnica.
“The UK needs to double the amount of renewable energy it generates by 2050. Sunnica would make a significant contribution to this goal.”
If permitted, the scheme would be among the largest UK solar farms approved to date.
It is due to be built across three sites in east Cambridgeshire and west Suffolk, connecting to the grid at Burwell substation.