Steeple solar and storage scheme secures development consent
RES says the Nottinghamshire project, with a grid connection capacity of up to 600MW, is expected to deliver £224m of local economic investment.
By Energy desk · 15 Oct 2026 · Nottinghamshire
The Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero has granted development consent for RES’s Steeple Renewables Project in Nottinghamshire, according to the developer.
The solar and battery storage scheme near Sturton-le-Steeple is expected to deliver an estimated £224m of investment in the local economy during construction and operation. RES said this would come through support for approximately 400 jobs, spending with nearby businesses and business rates throughout its operational life.
The nationally significant scheme will have a total grid connection capacity of up to 600MW. Its next stages include detailed design, discharge of requirements and preparations for delivery.
RES, headquartered in Hertfordshire, has been developing the project since 2023. The company said the solar element would generate enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 180,000 homes each year, equivalent to roughly half of Nottinghamshire’s households.
Battery storage will provide flexibility by storing electricity when supply is plentiful and releasing it when demand rises.
The consent follows an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, during which RES and interested parties submitted nearly 700 documents as part of the Development Consent Order process. Development work also included environmental assessment and consultation with statutory consultees, local authorities and communities.
Karl O’Mullan, solar development director at RES, said: “We thank everyone who has engaged with us and helped shape the project over the past few years, including local residents, landowners, parish councils, and statutory bodies. We look forward to building the project with the support of local businesses and supply chain.”
The project will also include biodiversity net gain measures and a tailored community benefits package valued at approximately £13m over its lifetime. RES said the package could include its Local Electricity Discounts Scheme.
The developer presented the scheme as a continuation of Nottinghamshire’s energy role, following coal and gas generation at West Burton Power Station. It said local communities and stakeholders would be kept updated as the project progresses.