Nottinghamshire - Planning Applications For Electricity Generating Station

Great North Road Solar Park and Biodiversity Park 

Notice publicising a Statement of Community Consultation ("SOCC") in accordance with section 47(6) of the Planning Act 2008. 

Notice is hereby given that Elements Green Trent Ltd (Company Number 13665771), whose registered office is 1 Half Moon Street, London, United Kingdom, W1J 7AY ("the Applicant") has produced a Statement of Community Consultation ("SOCC") in accordance with Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008. 

The project 
1. The Applicant is proposing to make an application under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for a Development Consent Order to authorise a new solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating station "Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park" within the district of Newark and Sherwood and the county of Nottinghamshire. The Development would be located on land to the north-west of Newark-on-Trent, the west of the Al, north of the A617, east of Eakring, and south of Egmanton, occupying two main areas to the north and north-west of Staythorpe. 

2. When built, Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park would have an anticipated solar electricity generation capacity of approximately 1,120 megawatts (MW) Direct Current (DC) / 800 MW Alternating Current (AC), to be connected into the existing National Grid Staythorpe Substation. In doing so, the scheme has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of approximately 400,000 homes while avoiding more than 250,000 tonnes of CO, emissions every year. 

3. The Applicant is committed to working closely with stakeholders and the local community to develop the project by having regard to the feedback received through public consultation. 

4. The Applicant is represented by Elements Green, a solar and energy storage developer with a 15-year development track record in the UK, EU and internationally. Elements Green is progressing a development pipeline in excess of 12 GW. 

Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) 
5. The Applicant has a duty to consult the local community under Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008. The Applicant has, therefore, prepared a SoCC that explains how people living in the vicinity of the proposed project boundary will be consulted throughout the pre-application process. Additionally, Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park is an Environmental Impact Assessment development as it falls within Schedule 2 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 A Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) has therefore been produced, alongside other consultation documents. The SoCC sets out how the Applicant intends to consult on the PEIR and other consultation documents. 

6. The consultation process is designed to provide information about Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park and give the opportunity for local communities and other stakeholders to have their say and help develop the final design for the project. 

7. The Applicant has consulted relevant Local Planning Authorities on the contents of the SoCC and duly considered the comments made regarding the proposed approach to consultation. 

8. This notice provides formal notification of the publication of the SoCC which can be viewed on the project website (www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk) and is also available to view free-of-charge from the Community Access Points (CAPs) listed in this notice from Thursday 19 December 2024. Requests for hard copies of the SoCC can be made using the contact details below. 

The consultation process 
9. The Applicant will carry out a statutory phase of community consultation on their proposals between 09 January and 20 February 2025. 

10. Consultation will include a series of activities, which will be available and accessible to all interested members of the local community. Consultation materials will be available to access at information events, CAPs (listed on the right), on the project website (www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk) and by request (via contact details on the right). 

Community Access Points 

*Current opening times, subject to change by the venue. 

11. The Applicant will host public information events to provide opportunities to view the relevant documentation and speak with members of the project team. The details of the events are as follows: 

12. Consultation materials can also be made available by request in alternative formats, such as large print, translated language, audio or braille, by contacting the Applicant using the details below. Please note that there will be a charge of up to £500 for hard copies of the full PEIR. 

13. Feedback can be submitted online via the project website, in writing using the contact details below (via email or freepost) or at an information event. Response deadlines for each phase of consultation will be publicised. The deadline for feedback at this second phase of community consultation is 20 February 2025. 

Get in touch

Email: info@gnrsolarpark.co.uk  

Call: Freephone 0808 175 4054 

Write: Freepost GNR Solar 

Visit: www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk