Elements Green launch Phase Two Statutory Public Consultation into Great North Solar and Biodiversity Park, in Newark and Sherwood, running to February 20, 2025
A new public consultation has been launched for plans which would see one of the largest solar farms in the country built in Newark and Sherwood.
Project developers Elements Green, have launched a Phase Two Statutory Consultation on plans for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, which is due to last six weeks, running to February 20.
If given approval, the plans would see around 1.5m panels built on farmland surrounding villages to the north of Newark — which alongside battery energy storage systems has the potential to generate a capacity of around 800 megawatts, equivalent to what is required to power 400,000 homes.
The plans are currently in the pre-application stage and are officially due to be submitted in late summer 2025.
However, due to the scale of the project scale, it is considered to be a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’ and therefore a Development Consent Order will be decided by Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
Elements Green say they welcome all communities and interested parties to view, discuss and comment on the proposals during the six week consultation process.
A series of eight in-person events and one online exhibition, providing opportunities to find out more information and provide feedback, will also take place.
These event dates are as follows:
• Thursday, January 23: 2pm to 7:30pm, at Maplebeck Village Hall, Main Street, Maplebeck.
• Friday, January 24: 2pm to 7:30pm, at Sutton on Trent Sports Club, Grassthorpe Road, Sutton on Trent.
• Saturday, January 25: 11am to 3pm, at North Muskham Rural Community Centre, North Muskham.
• Wednesday, January 29: 2pm to 7:30pm, at Laxton Village Hall, Hight Street, Laxton.
• Thursday, January 30: 11am to 3pm, at Kelham House, Main Street, Kelham.
• Friday, January 31: 2pm to 7:30pm, at Carlton on Trent Village Hall, Main Street, Carlton-on-Trent.
• Tuesday, February 4: 2pm to 6:30pm, at Eakring Cator Hall, Kirklington Road, Eakring.
• Wednesday, February 5: 11am to 3pm, at Newark Town Hall, Newark.
• Monday, February 10: 5:30pm to 7pm, online community webinar.
Feedback received from the first round of consultation in 2024 have already led to changes to the plans, including the addition of more biodiverity measures to enhance wildife in the area, such as planting 50,000 new trees.
Addressing concerns about a loss of agricultural land, thousands of sheep will be allowed to graze the fields upon which the solar panels are placed.
The developers have also struck a deal which will see exclusively British steel being used during the construction process and the creation of more jobs in the area.
Project director, Mark Noone, said: “Our plans for Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park will make a significant contribution to meeting national targets to triple solar power to 47 GW by 2030 and decarbonise our electricity systems to reach net zero by 2050.
“We want to talk to communities to understand their views and listen to their ideas.
“Feedback received during Phase Two Statutory Consultation will help us to refine our proposals, and we want to hear from as many members of the community as possible.
“Our project website and contact channels continue to be live and we look forward to meeting the community at our exhibition events.
“We encourage anyone with an interest in our proposals to provide their feedback and take part in our consultation.
“We are also interested in speaking to people with an interest in free renewable energy training courses and employment opportunities.”
He added: “We believe that local communities have an important role to play in helping to inform and influence how our proposals for Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park evolve.
“We want to deliver this project responsibly and are committed to consulting as widely and effectively as possible, working together with residents, businesses and community organisations to improve and enhance our proposals as our plans for the project progress.”
If approved by government, construction could begin in 2027, with the park expected to be operational two years later.
More information about the proposals and details of the exhibition events can be found on the project website: www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk.
The project communications team can be contacted directly using the details below: Email: info@gnrsolarpark.co.uk
Freephone information line: 0808 175 4054 (open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
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