Elements Green, a renewables developer based in the UK, has today launched Phase Two Statutory Consultation on plans for the Great North Road (GNR) Solar and Biodiversity Park – a new solar, energy storage, and biodiversity park located to the northwest of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
With a potential generation capacity of around 800 megawatts (MW) AC of solar energy, the scheme has the potential to meet the power needs of approximately 400,000 homes, equivalent to 100 per cent of the homes in Nottinghamshire.
Subject to being consented and becoming operational, the GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park would make a significant contribution towards decarbonising the UK by generating clean, affordable, home-grown electricity. It would also support UK energy security and contribute to tackling the cost-of-living crisis through the reduction of household energy bills.
Today, Thursday, 9 January 2025, Elements Green has launched Phase Two Consultation for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park. The developer welcomes all communities and interested parties to view, discuss, and comment on the proposals. Elements Green is committed to undertaking a transparent and rigorous consultation process, which involves engaging with local planning authorities, interest groups, and statutory consultees. This phase of consultation will run until Thursday, 20 February 2025.
Elements Green will be holding a series of in-person and online exhibition events, providing opportunities for the community and key stakeholders alike to find out more information about the proposals and provide their feedback. There will be a total of eight in-person events and one online webinar during this second phase of consultation. These event dates are as follows:
· Thursday, 23 January – 2pm – 7:30pm – Maplebeck Village Hall, Main Street, Maplebeck, Newark, NG22 0BS
· Friday, 24 January – 2pm – 7:30pm – Sutton-on-Trent Sports Club, Grassthorpe Road, Sutton-on-Trent, Newark, NG23 6QX
· Saturday, 25 January – 11am – 3pm – North Muskham Rural Community Centre, North Muskham, Newark, NG23 6HL
· Wednesday, 29 January – 2pm – 7:30pm – Laxton Village Hall, High Street, Laxton, Newark, NG22 0NX
· Thursday, 30 January – 11am – 3pm – Kelham House, Main Street, Kelham, Newark, NG23 5QP
· Friday, 31 January – 2pm – 7:30pm – Carlton-on-Trent Village Hall, Main Street, Carlton-on-Trent, Newark, NG23 6NW
· Tuesday, 4 February – 2pm – 6:30pm – Eakring Cator Hall, Kirklington Road, Eakring, NG22 0DA
· Wednesday, 5 February – 11am – 3pm – Newark Town Hall, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
· Monday, 10 February – 5:30pm – 7pm – Online Community Webinar
Mark Noone, Project Director for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, said:
“Our plans for GNR 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. With an installed capacity of over one gigawatt (GW) DC, GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park would contribute significantly towards this target.”
“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.”
“We believe that local communities have an important role to play in helping to inform and influence how our proposals for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park evolve,” explains Mark. “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.”
Due to its proposed generation capacity being over 50MW, GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This means that Elements Green will make an application to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for a Development Consent Order (DCO).
