The Development
Great North Road (GNR) Solar and Biodiversity Park will comprise of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, an on-site energy storage facility and the infrastructure needed to connect the scheme into the national grid at Staythorpe substation, as well as biodiversity enhancements including 64,500 trees and 50km of new hedgerow.
In addition, 28 new permissive routes are being created, comprising 22 footpaths and 6 bridleways, totalling 34.8 km of new recreational routes.
The location
The project has been consented to occupy approximately 1,765 hectares of land to the north west of Newark, Nottinghamshire. Approximately 1,025 hectares are allocated for solar development, with the remaining area allocated for mitigation and enhancement measures, underground cabling and safe access during construction.
The consented landscape and biodiversity measures include the planting of 64,500 trees, the creation of over 800 acres of dedicated biodiversity areas outside the solar panel areas, and over 50 km of new hedgerow. The approved plans and management documents set out the measures and their delivery requirements.
The overview masterplan below denotes the extent of the land available for the proposed solar park and its grid connection.
In addition, a range of planning and environmental factors such as existing land use, quality of land, and technical constraints were also informed our choice of location for the project.
Please click here to view a downloadable version of the masterplan.
The need for GNR Solar Park
The UK has set legally binding targets to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Large-scale solar development is recognised as playing an important role in supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Government policy continues to support a significant expansion of solar capacity as part of wider ambitions for a secure, low-carbon electricity system.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate home-grown renewable electricity, support UK energy security and contribute to reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Additional renewable generation can help put downward pressure on wholesale electricity costs over time.
Key benefits
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Contributing to national and local climate targets by generating clean, reliable electricity
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Helping reduce household bills and provide energy security with home-grown solar power
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Increasing biodiversity and protecting wildlife with additional plantings and protected areas
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NG+ is the project’s proposed community benefit package, intended to make available around £1 million per year once the project is operational.
The developer
GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park is being developed by Elements Green, an integrated solar and energy storage developer and independent power producer. The project received development consent on 27 October 2026.
Elements Green is dedicated to developing renewable energy solutions that provide lasting benefits for communities and the environment. GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park, our flagship project, demonstrates our commitment to clean energy, community engagement and sustainability.
Further information about Elements Green is available here.
History of energy generation in the area
Once operational, GNR Solar Park would add renewable electricity generation to the area’s history of energy production.
Staythorpe housed some of National Grid’s first infrastructure in 1953, and has since been central to electricity transmission all around the country, from Hull to London.
Staythorpe ‘A’ was a coal-fired power station that operated from 1950 until 1983. By 1962, Staythorpe ‘B’ became operational using coal, however after being shut down in 1994, the location became the site for the current Staythorpe substation. In 2010, gas-powered Staythorpe ‘C’ power station became the second largest Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) in the UK, providing energy to two million homes.
As the coal-fired power stations in the area have closed down, this has created capacity in the grid, allowing GNR Solar Park to carry on the tradition of power generation the area using a clean, renewable resource.
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