Approval Granted for Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park Development

An application has been put forth for a solar photovoltaic array generating station, alongside a battery energy storage system and associated grid connection infrastructure, boasting a maximum generation capacity of 800 megawatts (MW).

This application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by Elements Green Trent Limited on 27 June 2025 and was accepted for examination on 22 July 2025.

Public Involvement and Examination Process

The examination provided various stakeholders, including the public, statutory consultees, and other interested parties, the chance to present their views to the Examining Authority. Following this comprehensive examination, recommendations were forwarded to the Secretary of State on 28 July 2026.

This marks the 117th energy application out of a total of 185 that have been examined thus far, with the Planning Inspectorate successfully completing the process within the statutory timeframe established by the Planning Act 2008.

Local communities have been actively engaged in the examination process, ensuring that those potentially impacted by the project have a voice. Residents, the local authority, and other interested parties were afforded the opportunity to participate in this thorough six-month examination period.

Recommendations and Decision-Making

The Examining Authority diligently considered all local perspectives and the evidence collected throughout the examination before submitting its recommendations to the Secretary of State.

The decision, along with the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the evidence reviewed during the process, can be accessed publicly on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.

This decision was ultimately made by Baroness Curran, acting on behalf of the Energy Secretary’s legal authority.

Further Information for Journalists

Journalists seeking additional information are encouraged to reach out to the Planning Inspectorate Press Office at 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005, or via email at Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.