The consultations

Targeted consultation: closed 4 February 2026

Kingsway Solar launched a targeted consultation to their plan for the proposed solar farm. It was a short, unexpected consultation by Kingsway Solar on six changes and one clarification to their plans. These changes mean that more land will be covered in solar panels, and there will be less space for wildlife. These are Kingsway’s six additional changes.

 

We submitted our response to the consultation to Kingsway on 29 January 2026. 

What has changed?

The new proposal significantly increases the size of the battery storage systems, and as a result requires moving solar panels into areas not previously covered in the initial plans. It is vital that we all read about the changes and give Kingsway feedback.

 

Areas affected

We have superimposed Kingsway’s proposed solar panel layout onto an Ordnance Survey map, so you can easily see how it relates to familiar landmarks and local areas. 

 

new proposed area for kingsway solar farm
Detailed map of Kingsway's proposed solar panel layout superimposed on an OS map including new areas for panels in red and larger battery storage and substations in black, added during the targeted consultation in January 2026.

Let’s look at the changes to the proposal one by one:

  • Change 1 (A1 & A2): Kingsway Solar wants to add more solar panels to Land Area A. This is the area north-west of Balsham, nearest to the A11. Kingsway describe it as having “limited constraints”.
  • Change 2 (B1 & B2): Kingsway Solar wants to add more solar panels to Land Area B. This is the area between Balsham and West Wratting, on the northern side. The panels will be along the Icknield Way, the ancient right of way which runs through the two parishes.
  • Change 3 (C1-C4): Kingsway Solar want to remove panels near Weston Colville church and Hall Farm. This is a response to feedback from local people and Historic England about the visual impact on the area’s historic character. So they can still generate the same amount of energy, solar panels will be added to other parts of land parcel C. One area is south-west of Weston Colville and the other is north-west, near the woodland burial ground. These new areas are all best quality farmland, including substantial areas of grade 2 land.
  • Changes 4, 5 & 6 (Substations and BESS compounds expanded): Kingsway Solar now proposes substantially larger substations and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compounds across Land Areas A, B and C. This is because they underestimated the size they needed in their original plans. The biggest BESS compound will be the size of Weston Colville village, or Balsham High Street from the bandstand to The Rookery – built on the hillside near Wadlow wind farm.
  • A ‘clarification’: Kingsway have published what they call a clarification. As it is not officially a change to their initial plans, we are not invited to consult on this. However, their clarification is actually a correction. The consultation documents repeatedly stated that the construction haul road would run “along the existing byway.” Residents reasonably understood this to mean the public right of way itself. Kingsway now says the route would be built alongside the byway.

FAQs

 

What consultations have taken place?

Kingsway Solar Farm is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). That means the final planning decision won’t be made by local councils, but by the Secretary of State. Before Kingsway can submit its application, it had to hold a six-week public ‘Statutory Consultation’. This took place in September-October 2025. 

 

Kingsway then identified some changes they wanted to make to their plans, and so they held a targeted consultation in January-February 2026 to tell us about the changes and ask for feedback. 

Where can I find Kingsway’s plans?

Kingsway’s Targeted Consultation booklet is on their website. They outline what they plan to change and include maps. 

 

For their Statutory Consultation, Kingsway’s full PEIR (Preliminary Environmental Information Report) documents are available to download on the Kingsway Solar Farm website. These run to thousands of pages.

We recommend you begin with their shorter 65-page non-technical summary. If you want a quick overview of this, we have created a 4-page and a 6-page summary.

 

What does KSCA think about the changes in the targeted consultation?

Here are our thoughts on the changes Kingsway made to their plans in early 2026.

  • Our thoughts on change 1: More solar panels to Land Area A. This is the area north-west of Balsham, nearest to the A11.
    • Land closest to the A11 was previously excluded from development due to highly significant archaeology, as confirmed by Historic England.
    • Land Area A is already the most densely developed part of the scheme, with clear and documented harm to ground-nesting birds, barn owls and turtle doves.
    • In the original plans, this section of Land Area A was indicated as one of only three areas offering ‘Opportunities for biodiversity net gain’. The new designs from the targeted consultation do not show any alternative areas of biodiversity net gain to offset these impacts.
    • Adding more panels here undermines archaeological protection, intensifies ecological harm and contradicts Kingsway’s own earlier assessments.
  • Our thoughts on change 2: More solar panels to Land Area B. This is the area between Balsham and West Wratting, on the northern side.
    • This proposal will transform the historic Icknield Way into a solar corridor. Icknield Way is one of Britain’s oldest paths and panels here would fundamentally change the area.
    • People could spend 20–30 minutes walking between fences, next to panels and listening to inverter noise along this stretch, permanently altering the sense of openness, calm and enjoyment.
    • Panels on these fields would be on higher ground and be visible for miles.
    • These fields are grade 2 (high grade) agricultural land.
    • In the original plans, this section of Land Area B was one of only three areas offering ‘Opportunities for biodiversity net gain’. The new designs from the targeted consultation do not show any alternative areas of biodiversity net gain to offset this design change.
    • Adding more panels here fundamentally changes the character of this ancient landscape, intensifies harm to wildlife and put development on high grade farmland.
  • Our thoughts on change 3: Move panels from near Weston Colville church and Hall Farm to other parts of Land Area C.
    • We welcome the removal of panels from near to Weston Colville church and Hall Farm.
    • However, adding panels to areas C1 and C2 will put solar panels on some of the highest quality farmland in the area, taking it out of use for at least 40 years.
    • Areas C1 and C2 were previously earmarked for ecological and landscape enhancement. These new proposals put them under panels.
    • These suggested changes cast serious doubt over claims that farming can continue across the site and that Biodiversity Net Gains are achievable.
  • Our thoughts on changes 4, 5 & 6: Enlarging the substations and battery compounds.
    • The only reason this change is required is because Kingsway underestimated the size they needed in their original plans.
    • The new compound near Wadlow wind farm will be enormous, covering an area the size of Weston Colville village, or Balsham High Street from the bandstand to the Rookery.
    • The enlargement of two substations and the battery energy storage system (BESS) means that panels have to be moved to areas previously set aside of ecological benefits or farming.
    • Areas C1 and C2 are both close to public footpaths that were not previously affected by the scheme. The new plan would permanently change the experience of popular and valued routes
    • These changes undermine Kingsway’s earlier commitments to protect land, landscape and the environment.
  • Our thoughts on the ‘clarification’: We believe their clarification is actually a correction and therefore we should be able to feed back on this issue.
    • The error in Kingsway’s consultation documents occurred because their information was poorly constructed, ambiguous and misleading.
    • Trust depends on clarity. This change highlights a failure of the consultation process, not a failure of public understanding.
    • The public have a right to be consulted on the proposal of a haul road passing through the field to the south of Brook Lane.

 

What's next?

Now the targeted consultation has ended, Kingsway Solar will review the Statutory Consultation and targeted consultation feedback and prepare their Development Consent Order (DCO) application. This next major step in the process is likely to happen in Spring 2026.

 

In the meantime, the Kingsway Area Parish Council Alliance (KAPCA) and Kingsway Solar Community Action (KSCA) will continue working together to build a strong, evidence-based case ahead of the Examination stage, which is expected to begin in summer 2026. This work will include expert input, community engagement, and preparing the arguments we will present formally to the Planning Inspectorate.

We will keep residents updated throughout — and there will be further opportunities for community involvement as the process moves forward.

Statutory consultation responses

Below are links to the responses submitted as part of Kingsway Solar’s stage 2 statutory consultation, which closed on 29 October 2025.

The formal purpose of these submissions is to inform Kingsway’s next stage of design, ensuring they address the concerns and priorities of the communities and landscapes affected.

How can I complain about misleading marketing?

When complaining about misleading marketing for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), you should first raise the issue directly with the project’s applicant, then submit a formal complaint to the Planning Inspectorate. You can also report broader instances of misleading advertising to regulators like the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) or Trading Standards.

  1. Complain to the NSIP applicant: Before involving regulators, you must complain directly to the company proposing the infrastructure project. This gives them an opportunity to address your concerns.
    1. Gather evidence: Keep copies of all misleading marketing materials, such as leaflets, website claims, social media posts, and transcripts of conversations. Note the specific claims you believe are misleading.
    2. Write a formal letter: Send a clear, concise letter or email detailing your concerns, referencing the specific marketing materials, and explaining how you were misled.
    3. Request a correction: Ask the company to correct the misleading information.
  2. Complain to the Planning Inspectorate: If the applicant does not resolve the issue, you can make a formal complaint to the Planning Inspectorate, which oversees the NSIP process.
    1. Make your complaint early: The Planning Inspectorate’s complaints procedure states you should complain as soon as the issue becomes apparent.
    2. Provide details: In your complaint, include all the evidence of misleading marketing you have gathered, and explain the impacts of the project based on your local experience.
    3. Submit via the correct channel: You can use the Planning Inspectorate’s customer contact form or telephone their customer service team.
  3. Report misleading advertising to regulators: For general concerns about misleading advertising, you can also report the issue to the following UK regulators.
    1. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA): For complaints about specific adverts, the ASA handles complaints about advertising content across all media, including print, online, and social media. Use the online complaints form on the ASA website to detail the misleading marketing materials. The ASA will assess your complaint against its advertising codes. If they agree it is misleading, they can demand the advertiser removes or amends the advert.
    2. Trading Standards: For broader unfair trading practices your local Trading Standards office investigates misleading advertising and unfair business practices. This is the correct route if the company’s actions affect more than just one person. You should report the business to Trading Standards by contacting the Citizens Advice consumer service. They will pass your report to the relevant Trading Standards team.
  4. Register as an “Interested Party”: To formally participate in the NSIP consenting process, including raising issues about misleading information, you should register as an “Interested Party” with the Planning Inspectorate during the project’s examination phase. This allows you to submit official “Written Representations” to the Examining Authority, who will review and consider your concerns.
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