Key Projects
Ardent has worked on many of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects of the past 15 years – find out more below
Our First Ever DCO
Covanta Energy Limited
Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility)
Ardent was part of the team responsible for the preparation, submission and processing of the Development Consent Order application for an energy from waste facility in Stewartby. The application made on behalf of Covanta Energy Limited was the first DCO application and one to reach pre-examination under the Planning Act 2008 regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects. The facility is proposed to generate electricity by burning municipal waste, and its gross electrical output will be 65MWe – sufficient to serve the needs of 82,500 homes. The project also includes a new access and highway/railway junction upgrade, extensive landscaping and ecological habitat creation, improvements to rights of way, an underground electricity grid connection and a visitor centre. Ardent was instructed to assist in the production of application documents including the Book of Reference and the Land Plans. Ardent supported the project through the identification of land and property impacts, the negotiation of the release of restrictive covenants over the site, landowner engagement and consultation, and the advanced negotiation with landowners for the acquisition of land and rights necessary to implement the scheme. This involved approaches to utility companies, The Crown, Network Rail and train operating companies as well as local authorities and other major landowners affected by the scheme. The scheme involved the extinguishment of restrictive covenants, diversion of public rights of way, creation of new easements as well as consideration of compensation issues under section 10 and Part 1. In October 2011, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) awarded Covanta the UK's first Development Consent Order (DCO) to build Rookery South RRF.
Our Most Complex Project
Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station
Ardent has played a crucial role in supporting the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, through two of its directorates: Land Referencing and Consents Management Consultancy (CMC). Since 2018, Ardent has been providing land referencing services, producing the Land Plans and the Book of Reference, and contributing to key documents like the Statement of Reasons and the Consultation Report. The project, located on the Suffolk coast, adjacent to the existing Sizewell B station, involves not only the construction of the dual reactor nuclear power station but also significant associated developments, including new road and rail infrastructure, an accommodation campus, and significant ecological mitigation areas.
Ardent supported the submission of the DCO application in from 2018 through to the submission in May 2020 and continued to play a pivotal role during the DCO Examination for both the client and contractor. For the client, Ardent’s land teams facilitated changes to the application, processed multiple change requests and ensured compliance with noticing requirements for Issue Specific and Compulsory Acquisition hearings. The team also handled landowner engagement, coordinated access for surveys, and provision of property cost estimates for the entire scheme, including the road and rail strategies. This comprehensive land referencing and engagement work is a testament to Ardent’s deep expertise in navigating complex infrastructure projects.
Ardent’s Consents Management Consultancy (CMC) team has been leading the interface between the Civil Works Alliance and EDF/Sizewell C Co from DCO acceptance in summer 2020. The team managed the technical dialogue and coordination between engineering, construction, and the DCO planning team, spearheading a triage and speed governance process during the examination , leading the strategic response to navigate the complex civil, marine, and logistics challenges ensuring seamless collaboration and integration across disciplines. With the successful grant of the DCO in July 2022, Ardent has continued to provide critical interface support to the project in construction for all aspects of DCO including programme, procurement, and compliance.
Did you know? Sizewell C is a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes.
Having worked with Ardent Consents Management Consultancy (CMC) team before in major project consent delivery, I knew their skill set would be invaluable in Laing O'Rourke's ECI role in Sizewell C's DCO application. They lead as the interface between the client's planning team and the civil works engineering and construction programme, they ably prepared the team for examination, managed the technical dialogue and decision making, identified risks and opportunities for delivery and influenced the DCO to preserve cost & programme. A great team with top communication skills. Their insight of both sides of a major application is not a common skill set and one I value. I would happily recommend the CMC team and Ardent.
- Ian Watkins, Project Director (Laing O'Rourke)
Our First Solar DCO
Mallard Pass Solar Farm
Ardent played a pivotal role in securing the Development Consent Order (DCO) for Mallard Pass Solar Farm, one of over 20 solar DCOs to which Ardent has provided land and stakeholder engagement services. Working closely with Windel Energy since May 2022, Ardent delivered comprehensive land referencing services, ensuring that over 160 interested parties, including landowners, leaseholders, and statutory undertakers, were fully engaged throughout the consultation process. This rigorous approach enabled the project to meet its legal obligations and move efficiently towards DCO approval.
Mallard Pass, granted consent in July 2024, will generate approximately 350 MW of renewable energy—enough to power around 92,000 UK homes. Spanning 852 hectares, the project also contributes to the local environment by delivering a ‘net gain’ in biodiversity, including wildflower grasslands and new wet woodlands.
Our First Offshore Wind Project
Triton Knoll
Ardent played a central role in securing land agreements and providing property advice for the Triton Knoll Electrical System, supporting RWE Innogy UK from 2012 through 2017. The team conducted extensive land referencing over numerous potential routes in Lincolnshire, securing access for ecological and archaeological surveys across 100 sq km. Ardent also led landowner consultation, advising on corridor selection and final route options, while working closely with local stakeholders, including the NFU and CAAV. As land agents, Ardent facilitated the preparation of crucial documentation, including the Book of Reference, land plans, and Crown Land Plans, leading up to the DCO submission in 2015. By the close of the examination in 2016, Ardent had secured signed Heads of Terms with 93% of landowners along 60 km of onshore cable routes and several key infrastructure sites. Development consent was granted in September 2016, and Ardent continued to provide expert support during the examination phase, speaking at hearings and addressing compulsory acquisition concerns. Throughout the project, Ardent’s relationships with landowners and key organisations were critical to the success of the land agreements, contributing to the smooth progression of the Triton Knoll project from initial route optioneering to securing development consent.
Our Largest Highways Project
A66 Northern Trans-Pennine
Ardent played a critical role in supporting the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project DCO, which was promoted by National Highways. We were contracted by the design partner, Amey. Our team provided comprehensive land referencing services, ensuring all affected landowners were accurately identified and mapped, which was crucial for the project's smooth progression through the DCO process. The Land Referencing team produced the complex Book of Reference and Land plans whilst supporting the production of other compliant documents such as the Statement of Reasons and Compulsory Acquisition schedule.
Our Land Referencing team were pivotal in ensuring land access on a timely basis for all non-intrusive and intrusive surveys. Our team also successfully carried out the delivery of all notices throughout the DCO process.
In addition to land referencing, Ardent delivered specialised GIS services, offering valuable insights and visual representations of the project’s spatial data, as well as the compliant Land plans and Option plans. Our landowner engagement services facilitated effective communication with affected stakeholders, ensuring that landowners were well-informed and their concerns were addressed promptly. This holistic approach contributed significantly to the successful promotion of the DCO and we remain involved as the project moves to construction.
High Grove RWE
Ardent has been supporting RWE since 2023 in the development of the High Grove Solar project, a large-scale renewable energy initiative aimed at generating significant solar capacity for the UK’s energy grid. The project, which will deliver clean energy to thousands of homes, is being promoted through a Development Consent Order (DCO) process. High Grove Solar represents an important step in RWE’s renewable energy strategy, contributing to the UK’s national targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing the share of solar power in the energy mix.
Ardent’s involvement covers all stakeholder and land-related services for the project. We lead all consultation activities, including organising community engagement events, producing consultation materials (such as the project website), and compiling the official consultation report. Our approach to community engagement includes the broad application of innovative solutions from the very first use of an AI powered chatbot capable of answering 1,000 questions from stakeholders 24/7 and making use of a local social media influencer to promote engagement with younger people, ensuring the project receives diverse input from the local community.
In addition, Ardent is delivering comprehensive land services, including land referencing, landowner engagement, and property valuations, ensuring all parties involved are fully informed and engaged throughout the process. With our experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, Ardent’s support is critical to the successful delivery of the High Grove Solar DCO, paving the way for RWE’s contribution to the UK’s renewable energy future.