The application for Whitestone Solar Farm will be decided by the Government, not local councils.

Rotherham and Doncaster locals were wrongly informed about how to make objections to plans for a new solar farm, the Planning Inspectorate (PI) has revealed.

Green Nation, the developer behind the Whitestone Solar Farm project, issued blank forms for residents at public events, informing them they could be used to submit objecting or supporting representations.

However, in a subsequent statement, the PI said: “The Planning Inspectorate is aware that the applicant for the Whitestone Solar project has issued blank hard copy forms at public events and informed individuals that these can be used to submit relevant representations.

A view from the top of one of the fields that the Whitestone solar farm would be built on. | LDRS

placeholder image — A view from the top of one of the fields that the Whitestone solar farm would be built on. | LDRS

“The form distributed by the applicant cannot be accepted as a relevant representation.”

A spokesperson for the Whitestone Solar Farm project said it had arranged “sign up days” in nearby areas to help residents engage in the process and the error was based on the team’s “understanding of the relevant guidance at the time”.

They added: “During one of these events, a small number of individuals expressed that they were unable to register using the online form, because they lacked email addresses.

“In response, we provided a printed form to allow them to submit their details and feedback to the Planning Inspectorate by post. This was based on our understanding of the relevant guidance at the time. After further discussions with the Planning Inspectorate, we understand that they are not able to accept this form.”

The PI statement saw local community groups panic that their submissions would not be counted with the revelation coming one day before the August 27 deadline.

In order for representations to be accepted by the PI, “they must be submitted either via the online form, or by obtaining an official version of the hard copy form from the Planning Inspectorate”, the government agency said.

The spokesperson for Whitestone said: “We have agreed to extend the deadline until September 11, 2026, for individuals to register as interested parties with the Planning Inspectorate.

The ‘solar sites', in green, would include solar panels and other infrastructure, as well as areas for wildlife.
The areas in blue are underground cables and access roads. — The ‘solar sites', in green, would include solar panels and other infrastructure, as well as areas for wildlife. The areas in blue are underground cables and access roads. | Whitestone

“Individuals who cannot complete the online form should request a paper form from the Planning Inspectorate, as per their guidance. As relevant representations are made directly to the Planning Inspectorate, we have not collected or retained any personal information from the individuals who attended last week’s events.”

Philip Knight, a resident and secretary of Save Our Greenbelt Conisbrough Parks, said it was the “statutory right” of locals to participate in the process and “must be given accurate information about how to do so”.

He added that Whitestone’s error was “a significant failure of process”.