Great North Road Solar Park
Elements Green is developing proposals for a new solar and energy storage 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 provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of approximately 400,000 homes while avoiding more than 250,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year.
Overview
The project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because the amount of electricity it could generate exceeds 50MW. Click here to find out about the development process.
The scheme’s proximity to the A1, historically known as ‘The Great North Road’ was the inspiration for the project name. Click here for a map showing the location of GNR Solar Park. Click here to use our interactive map to search for a location.
GNR Solar Park would support UK energy security and contribute to tackling the cost-of-living crisis through the reduction of household energy bills. Click here to learn more about the project.
Public consultation will inform and influence the development of our proposals. Click here to find out about what will be involved in the consultation process.
Where we are now
Publication of interim report on first phase of communication consultation
The Consultation Summary Report (CSR) provides an overview of the comments submitted to us during our Phase One Consultation, and how we will use this feedback to shape a strong set of proposals that are sensitive to the concerns of local communities and key stakeholders.
This document also outlines further opportunities for you and your community to comment on our updated proposals through the next stage of consultation.
While the information in this document is a summary, we want to assure everyone who responded to our consultation that we have read all of the responses received in detail. As part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application, we will be setting out how we have considered all consultation feedback when developing our proposals.
This report is available to view and download here.
On Tuesday 27 February 2024, Stage One Consultation for Great North Road Solar Park closed
Our Stage One Consultation ran for six weeks, from Tuesday 16 January 2024 to Tuesday 27 February 2024. The purpose of this consultation was to introduce Elements Green, present our early proposals for Great North Road Solar Park, and give you the opportunity to provide your feedback. We would like to thank all those who have participated in our first round of community consultation, whether this has been through attending one of our events, contacting our communications channels, or providing feedback
We held a series of in-person and online exhibition events during the first stage of consultation, providing opportunities for the community and key stakeholders alike to find out more information about the proposals and provide their feedback. For more information please click here.
We are now reviewing all the comments submitted to us during the consultation to shape a strong set of proposals that are sensitive to and respect concerns of local communities. Our focus is on providing accurate and honest information to build an understanding of how Great North Road Solar Park can cheap generate low carbon energy, bring benefits while minimising adverse impacts on the local environment and surrounding communities.
Further to developing more detailed proposals for the project, we will then carry out a second stage of consultation. This is a statutory stage of consultation and is intended to give you the opportunity to comment on our updated proposals and how they have evolved since this initial consultation. We expect to carry out this second phase of consultation early next year.
We will continue to engage with local councils, community groups and technical consultees, and will undertake further environmental assessments ahead of publishing our Preliminary Environmental Information Report, anticipated for winter of this year ahead the second phase of consultation.
Scoping Report Submitted
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report for Great North Road Solar Park was submitted to the Secretary of State on 8 November 2023.
You can access the Scoping Report on the Planning Inspectorate’s website here.
The Scoping Report sets out our proposed approach to assessing and reporting on the potential environmental effects of our proposals.
The Planning Inspectorate was asked to provide feedback on this in the form of a Scoping Opinion and consulted with relevant stakeholders to prepare this. You can access the Scoping Opinion on the Planning Inspectorate’s website here.
The Scoping Opinion informs the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken on the proposals, which will be presented in our Preliminary Environmental Information Report at our second phase of consultation and then through our Environmental Statement (ES) when the application is submitted.
This webpage will be updated to include information about any future consultation opportunities.
If you would like to be updated as new information becomes available, please register your contact details with us here.