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RES is undertaking further consultation on proposals for Steeple Renewables Project, a new solar farm project with battery storage located at Sturton-le-Steeple, Nottinghamshire. Following the early informal consultation which took place in late 2023, RES has used community feedback to help refine the project, which would be capable of generating enough clean low-cost renewable electricity to power around half of the homes in Nottinghamshire. The community is now encouraged to take the opportunity to learn more about the emerging proposals and provide feedback on the updated plans for Steeple Renewables Project, as part of a second consultation period running for six weeks from Monday 20 January to Monday 3 March 2025. Located near the former West Burton Power Station, RES has a grid connection agreement up to 600MW for combined solar and battery energy storage. The decommissioning of West Burton Power Station has unlocked an opportunity to utilise the existing grid infrastructure and grid capacity at West Burton substation. This proximity to the grid will also help to reduce the impact of the project on the surrounding area, limiting the amount of new infrastructure that would otherwise be required. The project would represent a £224 million investment during construction, creating 400 jobs over the 24-month build programme. RES is also keen to develop a community benefits package tailored to the needs and priorities of the local community, including RES’ unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS), which could provide the closest local homes and businesses with an annual discount of at least £350*. RES is committed to community engagement, and the team will be hosting several in-person exhibition events and one online webinar event as part of the consultation to offer people the opportunity to meet the project team, provide feedback, and ask questions. The three in-person consultation events will be held on: Saturday 1 February 2025, between 10am-3pm at Sturton Hall and Conference Centre, Brickings Way, Sturton-le-Steeple DN22 9HY Wednesday 5 February 2025, between 2pm-7pm at Memorial Institute, South Leverton, Town St, South Leverton, Retford DN22 0BT Wednesday 19 February 2025, between 2pm-7pm at Sturton Hall and Conference Centre, Brickings Way, Sturton-le-Steeple DN22 9HY The online webinar will take place on Wednesday 12 February 2025, between 6:30pm–8pm at www.steeplerenewablesproject.co.uk, where people who are unable to attend the in-person events will also be able to view the proposals via a virtual exhibition from Monday 20 January. Printed copies of the consultation material can also be viewed and collected during opening hours at: Retford Library, 17 Churchgate, Retford, DN22 6PE Gainsborough Library, Cobden St, Gainsborough, DN21 2NG Will Bridges, RES Project Manager, said: “We are excited to be launching our second round of consultation on our proposals for Steeple Renewables Project. “This renewable energy project embraces the historic role that the area has played in powering the UK. We believe there is an opportunity to build on this legacy and ensure that Nottinghamshire continues to play an important role in the UK’s future energy generation. “We’d encourage local residents to view and provide their feedback on our proposals by attending one of our in-person events or visiting the project website.” Feedback on the proposals will be accepted until 11:59pm on Monday 3 March 2025. This feedback alongside ongoing environmental work will help to finalise the plans ahead of the DCO submission later this year. Steeple Renewables Project is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and will proceed through the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning process. The final decision on whether to grant consent for the project will be made by the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. |
