After years of planning, then two public consultation events in our village in March last year, followed by a detailed submission to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) twelve months’ later, proposals for a large ‘hybrid renewable energy project’ on agricultural land south west of Ruddington have now been approved.
On Monday (2nd October 2023) RBC planners gave the go-ahead for Ridge Clean Energy (RCE) to construct ‘Fair Oaks Renewable Energy Park’ at Fields Farm off Asher Lane. The green power generation scheme will pair 49.9MW of solar panels with 49.9MW of battery storage capacity – said to be enough to supply 11,200 homes with clean electricity. The company says the combination of technologies can achieve “efficient, reliable, and stable energy generation” from the site for up to four decades.
Marjorie Glasgow BEM, co-founder and CEO of Ridge Clean Energy, says: “We are delighted that Rushcliffe Borough Council have granted permission for Fair Oaks REP. As a company we aim to set a new standard for clean energy projects in the UK, through effective integration of renewable energy, community involvement and environmental protection.”
The associated ‘Fair Oaks Community Benefit Fund’ is projected to provide £24,950 per year for the 40 year lifespan of the project. Additionally, RCE has promised to provide up-front “seed capital and development assistance” for community projects, so people don’t have to wait until the completion of the build to start receiving benefits. The original timeline suggested the site could be built and become fully operational by the end of 2024, however the company says it doesn’t have a confirmed schedule of works just yet.
Rebecca Renfrew, RCE Community Partnership Coordinator, adds: “We are so pleased that Fair Oaks REP has received planning permission. We are excited to be working in the future with all of Ruddington Community through local groups, businesses, organisations and continuing to grow a partnership with Ruddington Parish Council, Rushcliffe Country Park, Ruddington Village Community Partnership and St Peter’s Junior School.”
Project Manager Jonny Murphy says: “We’re thrilled that the Fair Oaks REP has been granted planning permission. It’s a real opportunity for the local community and environment to benefit from the tangible benefits and substantial biodiversity net gain that the project will bring, whilst at the same time helping secure domestic and renewable energy generation. We listened to what the community told us at our public engagement events and acted positively to evolve our application to address those concerns.”
Among the concerns was that the temporary construction access route was proposed to be through Ruddington Village Centre. Under the approved plans, construction vehicles will instead be routed off Clifton Lane south along Pasture Lane to the site. Additionally, construction times (including deliveries) will be limited to 07:00 – 19:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 – 17:00 Saturday, with no working allowed on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Any piling construction work can only be done between 09:00 and 17:00 on Mondays to Fridays, excluding Bank Holidays.
The scheme will include an array of ground-mounted solar panels with species-rich seed mix in between the rows to encourage wildlife, especially bees and birds, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Fair Oaks layout was also adjusted following feedback received from the local community at the public exhibition and via the online consultation. Concerns about the spread of the development meant the site design was changed to no longer site any panels on Gotham Moor, south of the Fairham Brook. Other changes made before planning permission was granted, included pushing the solar panels around 100 metres back from the public footpaths, to reduce the visual impact further (as shown in the top photograph). The approved layout is shown below.
“A detailed Landscape and Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Plan has been committed to, which will demonstrate a substantial biodiversity net gain supporting local wildlife and providing new habitats” adds Jonny. “We’re looking forward to taking the project through to construction whilst keeping our close links with the local community, who we’d like to thank for their inputs so far. It’s decisions like these that future generations can look back on and see that we’ve actively been part of the solution to climate change. We will keep the community informed as the development progresses.”
For further information, the RBC planning reference was 23/00254/FUL and all the associated documents can be viewed >>HERE<<.
