Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park

Yorkshire, England

Introduction

Ridge Clean Energy are developing a renewable energy park, consisting of a solar farm and battery energy storage system, on land between Thornholme and Haisthorpe in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Ridge Clean Energy received planning permission for the Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park from East Riding of Yorkshire District Council on the 21st March 2024.

The Project
Project Timeline
Consultation
Community Partnership

You can contact the project team using the link above with comments, questions, or ideas.

View Site Boundary

Project Outline

The project will be located on privately owned arable farm land 1km north-east of the village of Thornholme.

The project could generate up to 39MW solar photovoltaic electricity.
The project could host up to 78MWh of BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).
It is currently estimated that the solar farm will generate the equivalent electricity needs of approximately 8,620 East Riding of Yorkshire homes (based on average domestic consumption per household of 4020kWh p.a., DBEIS 2021).
From the displacement of electricity generated from fossil fuel powered generation, the proposed development would offset the emissions of a significant quantity of carbon dioxide. This reduction in emissions would contribute to the national legislation of net zero emissions by 2050.
Once the renewable energy park is operating, funding will be made available to the local community to help fund community initiatives.

For more information on our community ethos and the community benefit fund for Three Oaks please click on the links above.

Infrastructure, Surveys & EIA Screening

Infrastructure

A range of infrastructure will be required as part of the new renewable energy park, which will include ground-mounted solar panels, inverters, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), transformer units, switch gear and substation, and temporary construction compounds.

Surveys

Our proposals and designs for the site have been guided by data gathered during surveys, technical assessments, and by advice provided by independent environmental consultants. Surveys began in winter 2020 and continued into 2022. The technical assessment reports are provided with the Environmental Report that accompanies the planning application.

EIA Screening Request

On October 6th 2021, Ridge Clean Energy submitted an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Screening Request to East Riding of Yorkshire Council. In response to this request, the council have provided a Screening Opinion that an EIA is not required.

Solar Generation

39MW

Battery Storage

39MW

Homes Powered

Equivalent amount of power as is used by 8,620 homes

Project Timeline

October 2021 - EIA Screening Request In October 2021, we submitted an EIA Screening Request to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

EIA Screening Opinion Received - November 2021 In November 2021, we received the Screening Opinion informing us that an EIA is not required.

Two Public Exhibitions Held - February 2022 On the 15th and 16th of February 2022, we held two public exhibitions, one in Carnaby and one in Burton Agnes.

Planning Application Submission - October 2022 In October 2022, we submitted our planning application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Planning Determination - Spring 2024 On 21st March 2024 we received planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Planning Condition Discharge Ongoing

Consultation

On the 15th and 16th February 2022, we held two public exhibitions, one in Carnaby and one in Burton Agnes. A newsletter was distributed to all properties within 2km of the site centre inviting local residents and businesses to the exhibitions. This newsletter can be found in the Community Partnerships section.

We have completed our environmental assessment work and reporting, and our application for planning permission has now been submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The application became ‘live’ on 25th October 2022. A second newsletter with an update on project progress can be found here.

The application registration is 22/02777/STPLF, and the application can be viewed here on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council website.

We are expecting the application to be determined in Spring 2024.

Newsletter October 2022

Newsletter February 2022

Posters from Public Exhibitions February 2022

What We Do

Successful projects require alignment of interests amongst landowners, communities, policy makers, and businesses.

The Ridge team works hard to understand interests and build enduring partnerships.

Community Partnerships

Ridge Clean Energy (RCE) works as a partner with the local community from the early stages of the development. Using RCE’s development experience and seed capital, RCE will help to deliver successful community projects.

RCE are working with East Riding Food Poverty Alliance (ERFPA) to support people who are struggling with the cost-of-living and rising fuel costs. RCE have provided funding for fuel vouchers to be issued to residents in need in Thornholme, Haisthorpe, Burton Agnes and Carnaby. To receive free fuel vouchers, please visit the ERFPA website for more information or contact Jodie Colgrave at ERFPA – Jodie.colgrave@communityvision.org.uk.

Education is a key part of our community work, which is why we have launched The Ridge Climate Care Awards to encourage environmental awareness and action among the younger generation. The Awards are available to use in primary schools or with community groups. They can be completed as part of the school curriculum or run as a club activity. Please click here to download our free resources.

Community Benefits

RCE will work with the community throughout the lifetime of the project. Since project inception, we have met with Burton Agnes and Carnaby parish councillors and have supported Burton Agnes Primary School breakfast club.

In March 2023 Burton Agnes Primary school invited our community team to deliver a whole school assembly and Key Stage 2 workshop focused on renewable energy and solar power. This was well received by teachers and pupils, and we hope to do more work with Burton Agnes Primary school in the future. RCE are committed to utilising the educational opportunities that Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park will have to offer from primary level to higher education.

We are flexible in our approach to community benefits and are working with Burton Agnes and Carnaby parish councils to develop a fund that can be administered locally to address identified local challenges and support community projects.

Our Experience

We have an experienced Community Partnership Team that work with local communities to create enduring local benefits.

Each project is assigned a Community Partnership Coordinator, who will forge relationships with key stakeholders in the area to identify and develop local initiatives and ideas that will support the community and its path to Net Zero.

Alongside our experience, we can also provide up-front seed capital and support with fundraising for local projects, allowing a community to benefit right from the beginning of the partnership.

Ridge Clean Energy provides free winter fuel support for local communities

Community Survey

Project Documents

The planning application documents can be viewed below.

Please note that any comments sent via the channels outlined above do not constitute a formal representation to the Local Planning Authority. Formal representations can only be submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council by visiting here and searching for application reference 22/02777/STPLF.

Comments

Providing comments or requesting a call back from a member of the project team using the forms below.

Email

Email us a comment or enquiry via the following email address threeoaks@theridgegroup.com.

Post

Or write to: Ridge Clean Energy, Noah's Ark, Market Street, Charlbury, OX7 3PL.