Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park (DCO)

Raincloud was appointed to provide hydrological services for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of an application for Development Consent Order (DCO).

Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park comprises of 800 MW (AC) of solar and battery storage, laydown areas, substation, battery energy storage, meteorological mast and new access tracks. The proposed development is located within to the west of Newark on Trent.

Raincloud undertook flood constraints mapping early on in the project to ensure that the built aspects of the Development were located in areas of manageable flood depths.

Raincloud contacted the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) to obtain Private Water Supply (PWS) data for the area and identify the nearest receptors to the proposed development. The closest PWS’ were visited during the site visit to fully understand the origin of the PWS and the risk the Development posed to the PWS.

Our team worked with the EIA coordination team, Envams, to produce a holistic hydrology chapter and supporting appendices including Water Framework Directive Assessment and the Flood Risk Assessment.

Raincloud played a key role in producing the outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (oCEMP) for the application. The oCEMP included best practice for the project and mitigation measures sediment pollution prevention, chemical pollution prevention and construction activities in the water environment.

The application was submitted in July 2025 and the project is currently awaiting a decision from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).