The developers behind plans for one of the biggest solar farms in the country have spoken in detail about why they want to build the project after it faced widespread public criticism.
Elements Green also says it is turning the opinions of some critics after explaining more about how the scheme will work.
The Great North Road solar farm would put panels on 1,600 hectares of land north-west of Newark – equivalent in side to around 3,000 football pitches – with another 1,300 hectares of infrastructure.
In November Newark’s Conservative MP Robert Jenrick criticised the initial plans as “not a reasonable proposal” and “completely out of control”, and a Stop GNR Solar group has been formed by residents opposed to the scheme.
Elements Green contacted 5,000 local residents for their views, and the firm says of the roughly 200 who left feedback, 16 per cent supported it, 26 per cent wanted changes made and 54 per cent opposed it.
The company says some local residents are getting on board with the scheme after it addressed concerns around flooding, farmland and the environmental impact.
Mark Noone, the project director said: “Some people will probably never get on board. But we’ve found that as awareness increases, so does support.
“We are talking to the 80 per cent in the middle who haven’t made up their minds yet. Often people say ‘It’s not as bad as I thought’.
“A number of changes were made based on feedback and local knowledge in the first round of consultation, and we want people to keep talking to us.
“One of the major concerns we’ve heard is flooding after the terrible events in January. Some people are under the belief we would concrete over the fields, which isn’t true – the solar panels would be on poles.
“We’re setting aside £1 million for each of the next 40 years for community projects, and much of that could be spent on flood alleviation if that’s among residents’ priorities.”
He also disputes an argument that solar farms can hurt food production by blocking farmland for decades.
“Food security is definitely something people are passionate about,” he added, “but if all of the government’s 70GW solar power target was met with plans like this, it would only take up 0.4 per cent of the UK’s land.”
The company says the solar farm would generate 800 Megawatts – enough to power 400,000 homes – and prevent the release of around 250,000 tonnes of CO2.
There has been criticism from local councillors that parts of Nottinghamshire are being overwhelmed by a swathe of large solar farm applications.
Mr Noone says the area is seeing the increase because the Trent Valley is ideal for plans like these – flat, with lots of hedges and close to a grid substation.
“Any development will have an impact, so we look for areas where it is going to cause the least harm, such as along the A1 or the East Coast mainline,” he said.
However, Stop GNR Solar member Richard Gill, who lives in Norwell Woodhouse on the edge of the plans, said: “We don’t think covering covering thousands of acres of productive farmland with solar panels is right.
“It will completely change the landscape for a generation, and there are better alternatives such as rooftops.
“The money being offered to communities is scraps from the table given how much the people running it will make. We need to put the planet before profit.”
Instead of being decided locally, The Great North Road proposal will be determined by the Secretary of State for Energy, Claire Coutinho, due to its large electricity generation potential.
This means a final decision will not be made by Newark and Sherwood District Council, as is the case with most smaller planning applications.
The next round of consultation will begin in the autumn, with plans due to be submitted to the government in May 2025.
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