Land Referencing –Frequently asked questions

We will shortly begin issuing documents called Land Interest Questionnaires (LIQ) to people with an interest in land adjacent to the proposed development site, and in areas we are considering for the cable route to connect Kilnside to the National Grid. These documents will be issued by a company called Ardent and are likely to focus on different locations in stages over the coming weeks.

This process is called ‘Land Referencing’ and is a key part of a DCO project, as we need to make sure that we have identified all legal interests in land affected by the proposals. This is to ensure that they are properly represented in the planning process and kept informed about Kilnside – including as part of the consultation on our proposals.

We have collated answers to some of the most common questions on the LIQ process below:

  • Kilnside Energy Park is a solar energy park development which will comprise solar PV panels, battery energy storage and associated electrical infrastructure including underground cabling, onsite substation as well as landscape and biodiversity enhancements.
  • Kilnside would be located located to the northwest of Great Casterton in Rutland and would connect into the National Grid via an underground cable
  • Kilnside is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because of the amount of electricity it would generate (over 50MW). This means that a type of planning consent called a Development Consent Order (DCO) is needed to build, operate and decommission it.
  • Kilnside is proposed by Aukera, a renewable energy company which specialises in energy and storage projects.

More information about Kilnside Energy Park can be found at: www.kilnsideenergypark.co.uk

  • Ardent is a specialist company appointed by Aukera to carry out Land Referencing (see “What is Land Referencing and why it is needed?” for more information about this process) on behalf of the Kilnside project.
  • Ardent will be contacting and engaging with landowners throughout this process to ensure we are consulting with the correct parties.

Ardent will be contacting and engaging with landowners throughout this process to ensure we are consulting with the correct parties.

  • As part of the Development Consent Order process, we need to identify everyone who has a legal interest in land that may be affected by our proposals for Kilnside. We do this through a process called Land Referencing.
  • Using publicly available information, Ardent has identified you as someone who may have a legal interest in land that may be affected by our proposals.
  • Ardent has written to you so we can confirm whether you do have a legal interest in the land and to check that these details are correct.

  • Land Referencing is the process of identifying people and organisations that have a legal interest in property or land. It begins by obtaining publicly available information from HM Land Registry and follows a process of diligent inquiry to verify this information and identify any other unregistered interests through desktop research, Land Interest Questionnaires and site visits.
  • It is a key part of the Development Consent Order process as we need to make sure that we have identified all legal interests potentially affected by Kilnside. This is to ensure that they are properly represented in the planning process and kept informed about Kilnside as work on it progresses – including when we will be consulting on our proposals.
  • Ardent has sent out these letters to confirm that we have correctly identified you as having a legal interest in the land.
  • If this is not the case, it is most likely that HM Land Registry is out of date – please let us know if this is the case and we will update our records accordingly.
  • If you are unsure, please complete the questionnaire and we will be in touch to discuss and confirm.
  • We are doing this now ahead of our consultation next year so that any representations made by people or organisations with an interest in the land are taken into account as part of the planning process.

  • A legal interest in land refers to any party that has a right to possess or use the land. This could belong to a freeholder, leaseholder, tenant or occupier of a piece of land.
  • It can also be anyone who has an interest in the land or the right to sell, convey or release the land. These interests in land can include persons with rights over land, for example, private rights of way, rights for pipes, cables and other services, sporting rights, rights to receive payments in respect of land or restrictive covenants as well as those with option agreements relating to the land.

  • We do not need to acquire any homes to facilitate the construction and operation of Kilnside.
  • All individuals whose land may be needed to locate the solar panels and associated on-site infrastructure have already been approached by a member of our team to agree the acquisition of rights. We are still looking at options for the cable route to connect Kilnside into the National Grid and need to understand who has an interest in land in these areas. Additionally, our project boundary includes some sections of public highway which may be required to deliver Kilnside. In this case, the adjoining freeholders will receive a Land Interest Questionnaire to confirm their interest in the subsoil of the highway.
  • Equally, you may not own land, but you may have a right which may be affected by the Kilnside – for example, a right of way or drainage rights. It is important that we have the correct contact information for you so that we can keep you informed as our project progresses.
  • Therefore, you may have received a Land Interest Questionnaire to confirm your interest in land within the proposed project boundary.
  • It is important to note that receipt of a Land Interest Questionnaire does not mean that this land will necessarily form part of the route or have infrastructure placed on or in it. Kilnside is in the early stages of design, and the project will continue to conduct surveys and technical assessments to determine the exact areas that will be proposed for environmental mitigation, solar PV panels, BESS infrastructure and associated development.
  • If you would like more information about why we have written to you, please contact the team using the contact details detailed on this sheet and the letter we have sent to you.

  • The Land Interest Questionnaire is pre-filled with the publicly available information we have collated through our desktop research. Please review this information, confirm it is correct, make any amendments and add in any missing information or interests before returning to us. Through this information we will collect the following information about you:
    • Name/ trading name/company name;
    • Home/company address;
    • Email address;
    • Phone number(s);
    • Land interest details and status including plan/map; and
    • Any additional information you provide through the Land Referencing process.

 

  • Ardent has sent you a Land Interest Questionnaire, a guidance note on how to complete the questionnaire and a plan which shows the area of land that we understand you to have a legal interest in.
  • Using the guidance note, please review the plans and confirm that we have the correct information for your property or land. Then review and complete the questionnaire. If you do not agree that the plans are correct, please annotate the plans to show any discrepancies.
  • Sign the questionnaire and then post everything back to Ardent using the Freepost envelope. We recommend that you keep a copy for your records.
  • You can also use the QR code in the Land Interest Questionnaire pack to submit this information online.
  • You can get in touch with the Land Referencing team for further guidance by phone or email on 07824 112 711/ Harrisonzemura@ardent-mangement.com
  • If you would like any legal or professional representatives to complete this form on your behalf, please forward this information to them or alternatively provide your advisor’s details to us (using the above contact details) and we will contact them directly. Please note that we are not able to reimburse any costs incurred in completing the Land Interest Questionnaire.

  • We will use the information that you give us to confirm that the information that we have collected is correct.
  • We will use your contact details to engage with you, including notifying you of our progress on our proposals.

  • Aukera and trusted third parties, including Ardent who will hold and process the data, will have access to your information solely for the purposes required by the Development Consent Order process.

  • As part of the application for a Development Consent Order that we will make to the Secretary of State, we must submit a document called a Book of Reference.
  • The Book of Reference is legally required and contains only the names and addresses (i.e. not telephone numbers or email addresses) of all interested parties. We have a legal duty to make the Book of Reference available for inspection by members of the public and disclose it to the Planning Inspectorate who may publish the information.

  • We would encourage you to confirm that the details we have are correct so that we can keep you informed about progress and future consultation events related to Kilnside.
  • If we do not hear from you, it is normal practice for us to visit in order to ask for this information in person and ensure that you have been informed about the existence of our proposals.

  • No. Completing this form does not indicate that you support or oppose the Kilnside project.
  • Completing the form ensures that you are properly represented in the planning process and kept informed about Kilnside – including when we will be consulting on our proposals. This ensures you are given opportunities to comment and provide your views on the proposals at formal stages of consultation.

  • The project website (www.kilnsideenergypark.co.uk) has been updated to confirm that we are currently undertaking the Land Referencing process.
  • If you have any doubts, please get in touch with the project communication channels (0800 779 7886 or at info@kilnsideenergypark.co.uk).

  • Your information and any personal data collected and processed by us will be handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations and will be used to fulfil our statutory obligations, as set out in the Planning Act 2008. For more information about our Privacy Policy, please see: https://www.aukera.energy/privacy-policy/