Low Carbon considers responses to initial consultation on Gate Burton Energy Park proposals

Mon Feb 21 2022

• Over 200 people took part in events and meetings held during initial consultation which closed on Friday, 18 February 2022
• Feedback submitted now being considered as work to refine and shape proposals for the solar energy park continues
• Next stage of consultation on detailed scheme anticipated Summer 2022

Low Carbon’s Gate Burton Energy Park project team met and spoke with over two hundred people over the course of an initial consultation on its emerging proposals to build a new solar energy park on land near Gate Burton, Lincolnshire. Further to this consultation closing on Friday 18 February 2022, work is now underway to consider all the feedback received as plans for the scheme continue to evolve.

Gate Burton Energy Park has the potential to generate around 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity – enough energy to power over 160,000 homes and avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of CO_2e emissions every year. This first stage of community consultation was primarily aimed at introducing Low Carbon and presenting its proposals for the scheme to give people living and working in the area the opportunity to inform and influence plans for the project at an early stage in the development process.

Two virtual information events took place to supplement five in-person events held in villages located close to the proposed solar energy development and grid connection. The team also went out to visit residents in properties neighbouring the site to understand first-hand their concerns and answer any questions..

Mike Rutgers, Development Director at Low Carbon said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to all those people who came along to meet the team and discuss the project in detail at events we held in Marton, Knaith, Willingham-by-Stow, North Leverton, Willingham or Treswell, as well as the online events. Over the course of this consultation, we’ve had some really constructive discussions and welcome the insight those conversations and subsequent feedback submitted to the consultation have provided.”

“Feedback to the consultation covers a range of issues regarding the scheme, and we’ve also received some fantastic suggestions of projects and initiatives for us to consider supporting to benefit those communities nearest the site. We’re now carefully reviewing all these submissions so we can take these views into consideration as we continue to evolve our plans.”

“In the meantime we’ll continue to work with local communities and stakeholders to keep them updated on the development process” adds Rutgers. “The intention is that we’ll then come back later this summer to present our detailed proposals for the project as part of our statutory consultation, giving people another opportunity to have their say ahead of us finalising and submitting our application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate.”

The project team will now consider all the feedback submitted, alongside the findings from technical and environmental studies, to help shape and refine the details for the scheme. A further stage of consultation will be held later this summer, giving local people another opportunity to have their say on the proposals.

While the first stage of consultation has now closed, people wishing to receive updates and information about the ongoing development process and future consultation are encouraged to register their details on the project website www.gateburtonenergypark.co.uk.

For more information about the project the project can be contacted direct using any of the following methods:

• Freephone: 0800 860 6259
• Email: info@gateburtonenergypark.co.uk
• Post: FREEPOST GATE BURTON ENERGY PARK

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