Cromwell village resident raises concerns over large-scale Great North Road Solar Park plans by Elements Green in Newark and Sherwood

Major concerns have been raised about how the construction of a large-scale solar farm will affect rural communities.

Plans for the Great North Road Solar Park would see approximately 1.5m solar panels built across almost 7,000 acres of land, encompassing dozens of villages to the northwest of Newark.

Elements Green, the developers behind the project, have said that the plans align with goals set by the British Energy Security Strategy, which aim to increase the UK’s solar capacity fivefold by 2035.

If given approval, the Great North Road Solar Park would have a capacity of over one gigawatt, which is enough to contribute 1.5 per cent towards this national target.

Now, Brenda Cox, a resident of Cromwell, is speaking out about how it would affect her community.

“They want to put one of the main access routes through the middle of the village.” said Brenda.

“We’ve been told that during construction there could be a lorry every two minutes passing through here — that is 240 lorries a day, and if you account for them driving back again that makes 480.

“It’s hard to even imagine what that will be like in a quiet village like this.

“Then there is the problem of pollution, noise, and heavy vehicles using roads that are not built for them.”

A large block of solar panels are proposed to be built in the fields directly south of Cromwell, which will be accessed via Norwell Lane during construction.

Brenda expressed concern about safety on this road after a 21-year-old man died in a collision last June.

“We have dog walkers, horseriders, cyclists, hikers and many more that use our countryside and I feel that people would not be safe on the roads because of the heavy traffic,” she said.

“A young lad was killed on the lane just last year — imagine how much more dangerous it will be with endless lorries thundering up and down.

“It’s not just us. This will affect everyone who lives near the site.

“It’s frightening what they’re planning to do to these villages. I don’t think they realise how many lives they will ruin.

“This has got nothing to do with people, it’s all about profits.”

Using Norwell Lane would also require crossing a busy railway line, meaning lorries could back up into the village while waiting for trains to pass.

Combined with issues from the existing truck stop on the slip road — which can already block access to the village at times — this further increase in heavy goods traffic could cause queues to back up onto the A1, creating congestion.

“One really important thing for me is that this is prime agricultural land.” said Brenda.

“We need to be growing more in this country, we need more food security.

“At a time like this, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, ships being stopped, we can’t keep relying on importing.

“We’re losing the green-belt, and even if in 40 years time when they remove all the panels and return it to how it was, will it still be green or will it be classed as industrial and open to future developments?”

A number of hedgerows will also be lost, which are planned to be removed to allow construction to take place.

Although the developer says that replanting will take place as part of a wider biodiversity plan, the immediate loss would have an impact on wildlife and the environment, and with fewer hedgerows to soak up rain, there was concern that it could potentially create a flood risk to nearby communities.

Brenda encouraged residents to speak up, saying: “If you don’t shout, you’ll never be heard.”

Elements Green expect to submit the solar park to the Planning Inspectorate by mid-2025 and subject to consent being granted, construction would start no earlier than 2027.

As the plans continue to develop, the company have said they are keen to address concerns and engage with the community through a number of information events around the district, which will run alongside a public consultation, ending on February 23.

Six in-person information events will take place at: Eakring Cator Hall, on January 30, from 12pm to 6pm; Laxton Village Hall, on January 31, from 2pm to 6pm; Newark Town Hall, on February 1, from 12pm to 6pm; Cartlton-on-Trent Village Hall, February 8, from 2pm to 6pm; Maplebeck Village Hall, on February 9, from 2pm to 8pm; and at Kelham House, Kelham, on February 10, from 12pm to 5pm.

For those not able to attend an in-person event, two online webinars will take place on Monday, January 29, from 5:30pm to 7pm, and Monday, February 5, from 5:30pm to 7pm.

Project director, Mark Noone, said: “We want to talk to communities to understand their views and listen to their ideas.

“Feedback received during stage one consultation will help us to develop our proposals more thoroughly, and we want to hear from as many members of the community as possible.

“Our project website and contact channels continue to be live and we look forward to meeting the community at our consultation events.

“We encourage anyone with an interest in our proposals to provide their feedback and take part in our consultation. We believe that local communities have an important role to play in helping to inform and influence how our proposals for Great North Road Solar Park evolve.

“We want to deliver this project responsibly and are committed to consulting as widely and efficiently as possible, working together with residents, businesses and community organisations to improve and enhance our proposals as our plans for the project progress.”