The Great North Road Solar Park, a proposed project in Nottinghamshire, is poised to create hundreds of jobs and generate enough clean energy to power every home in the county. According to developer Elements Green, the park would create an estimated 400 jobs during construction and 60 permanent positions once operational.
Providing 460 Jobs Alongside Clean Energy
The significant job creation is a key benefit of the proposed solar park near Newark, which promises not only to power all of Nottinghamshire’s homes with renewable energy but also to bolster the local economy. Developer Elements Green has detailed plans for approximately 400 construction jobs and 60 permanent roles once the park is active.
Mark Noone, head of UK development for Elements Green, highlighted that the project’s benefits go beyond lower bills and cleaner energy to include secure, well-paying jobs.
“The Great North Road Solar Park’s benefits aren’t just limited to cheaper bills and greener energy,” said Noone. “Hundreds of secure, well-paid jobs will be created during construction, and the project’s legacy will include scores of skilled positions once the site is operational. While the Great North Road Solar Park is currently a proposal, the potential benefits it offers this area—such as jobs, community funding, and cleaner energy—are enormous. This demonstrates our intention to make a long-term, positive economic difference in the region.”
Skills Training Opportunities for Local Residents
Mark Noone noted that many of these career opportunities with Elements Green would be in engineering, with further roles in administration and support—many of which are ideal for local candidates. He emphasized that these positions would offer stable employment with fair wages.
“These will be good, permanent jobs that pay a fair wage,” he stated. “And, like the Great North Road Solar Park itself, we believe they will positively impact the lives of families in the neighbourhood.”
Noone also mentioned that details about skills training opportunities for local residents would be announced in the coming months.
1.5 Million Solar Panels to be Installed
According to NottinghamshireLive, if approved, the project would involve installing approximately 1.5 million solar panels. This would significantly contribute to the UK Government’s Solar PV target of 70GW by 2050.
Developer Elements Green intends to establish the large-scale solar array near the villages of Maplebeck, Ossington, and North Muskham. Proposed designs show a circular configuration of solar panels spanning approximately four miles in width, situated northwest of Newark between the A1 and A617 highways.
Consultation for the groundbreaking solar farm, which is poised to become the largest in the UK, began in January. The Great North Road Solar Park is one of several ambitious energy projects recently proposed for Nottinghamshire. The scheme could generate up to 800MW, enough capacity to power 400,000 homes—enough for every home in the county.
The area’s suitability for solar development is partly due to an available connection at National Grid’s Staythorpe substation, a legacy of the region’s history in power generation. Nottinghamshire’s shift from coal to renewables is also evident in plans for the world’s first fusion power plant at the former West Burton A power station site.
Meeting UK Energy Goals
Image: Collected
Government targets aim for 70GW of solar power by 2035, a significant increase from 15GW in 2023, making the north and Midlands key areas for new solar projects. In February, Nottinghamshire residents shared their views on the Great North Road Solar Park proposals.
Project Director Mark Noone emphasized the importance of local community input in shaping the proposals, adding his assurance that the project would be developed responsibly through ongoing collaboration with residents, businesses, and community organizations.
As the demand for green energy rises, the number of solar applications across the country is expected to grow, bringing lasting impacts to local communities.