Consultation
Pre-Application Process
Phase One (Non-Statutory) Consultation
This first stage of consultation is non-statutory. While not formally required, it is intended to give local communities a real opportunity to influence the proposed development from an early stage to gain a better understanding of what we are proposing and its potential impacts.
Our phase one consultation ran from 16 January 2024 to 27 February 2024. The purpose of this consultation was to introduce Elements Green and the overall Development, share our early-stage proposals and give you the opportunity to have your say, share your views and local knowledge. The feedback received during this initial phase of consultation has helped to inform and shape the ongoing design of the proposals.
Phase Two (Statutory) Consultation
Further to developing more detailed proposals, we carried out a second phase of consultation. This is a statutory phase of consultation and is required by the application process for NSIPs.
This statutory phase of consultation was intended to give you the opportunity to comment on our updated proposals and how they have evolved since the initial consultation. We will use the feedback we receive to inform and shape a strong set of proposals that are sensitive to and respect the concerns of local communities.
We acknowledged and recorded all the comments submitted to us during consultation, and took them into consideration to when finalising our proposals.
As the developer, we have a duty to demonstrate how we have taken your views into account in developing our final application.
Targeted Consultation
Following the close of Phase Two Consultation, we continued to refine our proposals for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park in preparation for submitting a DCO application. This refinement was informed by further design work and due diligence, consideration of consultation feedback, and responding to the results and data from environmental assessment.
This resulted in a series of specific amendments to the Draft Order Limits – increases – compared to the Draft Order Limits presented in the PEIR and for Phase Two consultation. A targeted consultation was held between 8 May and 6 June on these specific additions.
Consultation Report
The Consultation Report [EN010162/APP/5.1], including a series of appendices, documents the pre-application consultation process carried out and sets out how this is complied with relevant legislation and requirements. Importantly, it also describes how the Development has been adjusted or influenced in response to feedback. The Consultation Report includes tables of responses and the Applicant’s replies, demonstrating a transparent consultation record.
Pre-Examination Process
Register to be an Interested Party
Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park is now at the ‘pre-examination stage’ of the DCO process.
Between Thursday 21 August 2025 and Thursday 02 October 2025, you will be able to register as an Interested Party in the Examination. Interested Parties may participate in the Examination of the application and will receive formal notifications as the Examination progresses. You can do this by visiting the PINS project website here.
The pre-examination stage usually takes around three months, after which the Examination will commence. The Examination can take up to six months, following which the Examining Authority will have three months to write and submit a recommendation report to the Secretary of State, to inform their decision on whether to grant consent for the project to be built (which will follow up to three months following this receipt of the recommendation report). A final decision on the plans is expected to take place in late 2026. For further information on next steps, please visit the PINS project website here.
In the meantime, you can continue to contact our team with any questions you might have using the details below.