Proposals for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, a solar and energy park located to the northwest of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, were submitted and accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State). Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, and the examination will therefore be managed by the Planning Inspectorate and a decision then made by the Secretary of State.
The proposals for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park include electricity generation that would meet the equivalent needs of approximately 400,000 households. The plans feature a wide range of measures to enhance biodiversity, including the planting of over 60,000 trees, the creation of over 800 acres of dedicated biodiversity areas outside the solar panel areas, and over 50 km of new hedgerow. In addition, 21 new permissive footpaths are proposed, 6 new permissive bridleways; and the creation of a circular recreational route around the Order Limits covering approximately 50 km, including over 12 km of new permissive paths.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on the 27 June and accepted for examination on the 22 July 2025.
Mark Noone, UK Project Director at Elements Green, said “Having our application for Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park accepted for examination is a key milestone and a testament to the hard work of our project team. The input we received throughout the various consultation rounds has played a vital role in shaping a stronger, more responsive proposal, and we are thankful to everyone who took the time to get involved.
As we enter the examination stage, we encourage anyone with an interest in the project to explore the application documents and consider submitting a Relevant Representation. We remain committed to delivering a project that not only generates clean, renewable energy but also enhances biodiversity and brings long-term benefits to the local area.”
You can register online using the Registration and Relevant Representation Form via the Project’s webpage (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010162) and stating the grounds on which it is made. Any Registration and Relevant Representation Form must be received by the Planning Inspectorate no later than 11:59pm on Thursday 02 October 2025.
The DCO application documents can be viewed and downloaded free of charge online on the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website under the Documents tab: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010162/documents
The document library on our project website (https://www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk/documents) also provides a link to these documents.
About Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park
The Applicant is Elements Green Trent Limited (company number: 13665771) of registered office 1 Half Moon Street, London, United Kingdom, W1J 7AY.
Elements Green Trent Limited is proposing to construct, operate, maintain and decommission a solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating facility and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of approximately 800 MW megawatts (MW) of electricity.
Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park will:
- Export up to 800 MW of clean, reliable, home-grown electricity to the national grid;
- Deliver a substantial biodiversity net gain, including increases of 60.7% in habitat units, 26.5% in hedgerow units, and 11.05% in watercourse units.
- Bolster UK energy security with the use of a battery energy storage system (BESS) to store and reliably supply electricity when it is needed;
- Improve connectivity across the park, including the introduction of 21 permissive footpaths and 6 permissive bridleways, increasing access to the countryside, while improving connectivity to existing public rights of way networks;
- Incorporate onsite food production through our partnership with local farmers and shepherds, ensuring food production will occur via the grazing of sheep; and
- Be accompanied by a £1 million per annum community benefit fund scheme.
Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park is also an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means the DCO for the project is accompanied by an Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary. The submitted Environmental Statement is available at the document links set out above.
Project information
The project website link is: www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk. You can get in touch with the project team by email, letter or phone.
- Email: info@gnrsolarpark.co.uk
- Freephone information line: 0801 754054 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday)
- Freepost: FREEPOST GNR SOLAR
For all media enquiries please contact:
Email: info@gnrsolarpark.co.uk
Freephone information line: 0801 754054 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday)
