'Nationally significant' solar farm plan approved

Plans for a major solar farm classed as "nationally significant infrastructure" has been approved by the government's Planning Inspectorate.

The Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, near Newark in Nottinghamshire, has the potential to power up to 400,000 homes - the equivalent of every home in the county - developers Elements Green previously said.

The project would form a ring of "solar islands" roughly 6.2 miles (10km) from north to south around villages such as Caunton and Ossington, with the eastern edge alongside the A1.

Final approval was given by Baroness Margaret Curran on behalf of the secretary of state for energy security and net-zero.

Its nationally significant classification meant the applicant was required to apply for consent from the Planning Inspectorate rather than Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, the government said the application was for a solar photovoltaic array generating station, battery energy storage system and grid connection infrastructure, with a maximum generation capacity of 800MW.

"The examining authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making its recommendation to the secretary of state," a government spokesperson added.

People living nearby had raised concerns over the potential impact the scheme could have on the area, and the results of a consultation published in 2024 showed 54% of respondents opposed it.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK MP for Newark, said he was "appalled and devastated" by the news, and felt the views of local people had been ignored.

"The whole area will now be subjected to acre upon acre of solar panels," he said.

"More than 10% of my constituency will now be solar. Good farmland ruined. Years of mess and disruption. Views wrecked for generations."

The government's decision can be challenged in the High Court, which would make a decision on whether there would be grounds for a judicial review.

This process would have to happen within six weeks.

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