Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

Proposed Projects for the Newark and Sherwood District

There are two proposed solar projects for the Newark and Sherwood district.  

PS Renewables and Ørsted’s One Earth Solar Project and Elements Green’s Great North Road (GNR) Solar Park 

The Planning Inspectorate (PINs) is the Government Agency responsible for examining applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (rather than the Local Planning Authority) who make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The National Infrastructure Planning website, managed by PINs, contains helpful advice on the Application Process including how to participate in the process, as well as other Guidance and Advice. Each Project has its own webpage on the National Infrastructure Planning website.  

Newark and Sherwood District Council is a statutory consultee for these projects which means we can make comments but do not make the final decision on whether they are approved or not.

One Earth Solar Project  

The One Earth Solar Farm Project proposes a new solar photovoltaic farm and associated battery energy storage that would import and export up to 740MW of electricity to and from the National Grid (the developer expects that this would be able to supply up to 200,000 UK homes). Grid connection would be made to the High Marnham sub-station in Bassetlaw District.   

The development is proposed by PS Renewables and Ørsted. 

The site is proposed on land around the villages of North and South Clifton and would fall within the Districts of Newark and Sherwood, West Lindsey, and Bassetlaw. It would lie within both Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire counties.   

The developer undertook a non-statutory public consultation between 27 September and 8 November 2023. 

The developer has indicated that formal statutory consultation will be likely to take place in Spring 2024, and that they intend to submit their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate in Spring 2025, with the Public Examination then likely to take place in 2025. 

Please refer to the Planning Inspectorate and developer websites listed below for more information on the Project Timetable and for how, and at what stages, you can make comments on this proposal.

Further information 

Great North Road Solar Park 

The Great North Road Solar Park Project proposes a new solar photovoltaic farm and associated battery energy storage facility that would import and export up to 800MW of electricity to and from the National Grid (the developer expects that this would be able to supply up to 400,000 UK homes). Grid connection would be made to the Staythorpe sub-station in Newark and Sherwood District. 

The development is proposed by Elements Green. 

The site is proposed on approximately 2,800 hectares of land to the northwest of Newark and would fall within the District of Newark & Sherwood and County of Nottinghamshire. 

The developer aims to undertake (non-statutory) public consultation early 2024. 

The developer has indicated that formal statutory consultation will be likely to take place in Summer 2024, and that they intend to submit their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate in Spring 2025, with the Public Examination then likely to take place in 2025/2026. 

Please refer to the Planning Inspectorate and Developer Websites listed below for more information on the Project Timetable and for how, and at what stages, you can make representations on this Proposal.  

Further information: