People

We engage with local communities throughout the planning process through a range of consultation activities, including in-person events, property visits and direct conversations with residents, landowners and local groups. We also spend time on the ground to understand how places are used and valued.

If a project is proposed in your area, you will be notified through the relevant consultation process. We actively encourage feedback, and this is carefully considered as part of the design process.

Community input can help shape key aspects of a project, including site layout, landscaping, access and mitigation measures.

Surface water drainage is a key consideration in the design of any solar park and is assessed in detail as part of the planning process.

Solar parks are typically constructed on grassland with minimal ground sealing, meaning rainwater can continue to infiltrate naturally into the soil rather than running off hard surfaces.

We commission independent hydrological and flood risk assessments for all projects, and design drainage systems to ensure that runoff rates are appropriately managed and do not increase flood risk to surrounding land or watercourses.

All of our projects are designed to deliver meaningful benefits to the communities in which we operate, across every country we work in. This includes dedicated community benefit funding, support for local initiatives, and long-term investment in the surrounding area.

For example, our NG+ community scheme, proposed in connection with the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, is designed to provide up to £1 million per year in local funding linked to the project’s operation.

More broadly, our projects create local employment during construction, engage regional suppliers and contractors, enhance biodiversity and green spaces, and contribute to a more resilient and affordable energy system.

During construction, there is a temporary increase in vehicle movements, particularly for the delivery of materials and equipment, and for activities such as cable installation.

As part of the planning process, we prepare detailed Construction Traffic Management Plans in consultation with local highways authorities. These plans set out agreed vehicle routes, delivery timings, and any necessary road or junction improvements.

We also take care to ensure that designated access routes are suitable for construction traffic before use. This can include repairing existing damage such as potholes or strengthening road surfaces where required. Following construction, we ensure routes are maintained and returned to an agreed condition in consultation with the highways authority and local community.

Once operational, solar parks generate very little traffic. There are no daily staff commuting to site, and maintenance visits are infrequent, typically involving only a small number of specialist vehicles.

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) means that development leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before, with lasting improvements to habitats and wildlife.

At Elements Green, this principle is central to how we design our projects across all the countries in which we operate — not merely a regulatory requirement.

We work with leading environmental organisations and local partners in each of our markets to create connected habitat networks and deliver outcomes that go significantly beyond minimum policy requirements.

In the UK, for example, we collaborate with organisations including the RSPB, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Trent Rivers Trust and Sherwood Forest Trust.

We also support wider knowledge sharing through the free EG Academy, helping to make practical conservation and biodiversity management accessible to both professionals and local communities.