Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park development consent decision announced
The UK government has approved the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, a major solar and battery storage project with up to 800MW capacity, following a six-month public examination process.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has granted development consent for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The project includes a solar photovoltaic array, battery energy storage system, and grid connection infrastructure, with a maximum generation capacity of 800MW. The application was submitted by Elements Green Trent Limited in June 2025 and accepted for examination the following month.
The Planning Inspectorate conducted a six-month examination, during which the public, statutory consultees, and interested parties were given the opportunity to provide evidence. The Examining Authority considered all local views and evidence before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State on 28 July 2026.
This decision marks the 117th energy application out of 185 examined to date, completed within the statutory timescale set by the Planning Act 2008. Local communities, authorities, and other stakeholders were actively involved throughout the examination process.
The decision, the Examining Authority’s recommendation, and the evidence considered are publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website. The approval was made by Baroness Curran on behalf of the Energy Secretary’s legal authority.