Freedom of information (FOI) disclosure log
Date Sent: September 16, 2026
Conclusion:
Description: This request concerns the New Hall Solar Farm scheme permitted following Inspector’s decision dated 11 June 2025 (APP/X4725/W/24/3354032). Time period: 11 June 2025 (date of appeal decision) to date of response. Please disclose all recorded environmental information held by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council relating to implementation, commencement, condition discharge, ownership, construction programme, grid connection, substation arrangements, operational timetable, delivery strategy, or dependency upon the Low Farm Solar Farm scheme, including but not limited to the following. 1. Correspondence and communications All emails, letters, Teams messages/chats, meeting notes, file notes, reports, memoranda, diary notes or other recorded communications between: • Wakefield officers and/or members; • Boom Developments Ltd; • Boom Power Ltd; • Boom Low Farm Solar Ltd; • Topsun Power Ltd; • Downing LLP; • Downing Renewable Developments Ltd; • any Downing-managed fund, SPV, consultant or representative acting in connection with the scheme; • any consultant, solicitor, engineer, ecologist, planning agent, grid/DNO representative, contractor or other adviser acting for or on behalf of the developer or delivery entity, relating to: • implementation of the appeal permission; • commencement of development; • discharge of planning conditions; • construction sequencing or programme; • substations and electrical infrastructure; • grid connection arrangements; • dependency on the Low Farm substation and/or shared connection arrangements; • commissioning; • acquisition, transfer of ownership, operational control or delivery responsibility; • construction funding, implementation strategy or delivery timetable; • delays, slippage, viability or delivery concerns; • intended amendments or revisions to the scheme. 2. Internal officer communications All internal communications, meeting notes, file notes, reports or discussions referring to: • New Hall Farm Solar Farm; • Low Farm Solar Farm; • implementation timing or programme; • “substation”; • “grid”; • “connection”; • “commissioning”; • “September 2026”; • “Q3/Q4 2026”; • “Lady Ings”; • “Downing”; • “Topsun”; • “Boom”; • delays, re-programming, viability or delivery concerns. 3. Transfer of ownership / delivery responsibility All recorded information concerning: • the transfer, acquisition, assignment or change in beneficial ownership, operational control or delivery responsibility of the New Hall Farm Solar Farm scheme; • communications with or concerning Downing following any transfer of ownership or investment interest; and • any revised implementation strategy, grid timetable, dependency assumptions, construction programme or delivery timetable discussed following such transfer. 4. Informal engagement / draft material Any draft submissions, informal technical discussions, draft condition discharge material, draft drawings, unvalidated submissions, pre-submission discussions or informal engagement relating to implementation of the scheme. 5. Search methodology If information is withheld, excluded, or said not to be held, please specify: a) the systems searched; b) the officer roles/titles consulted; c) the search terms used; d) the date ranges searched; e) whether personal devices/accounts used for council business were included within scope; and f) the EIR exception relied upon and associated public interest reasoning.
Attachments: EIR_Response_495.doc