Robin Hood Solar Farm
Qualitas Energy is proposing to develop Robin Hood Solar Farm, a c. 60MW (AC) fixed panel solar farm on a site near Robinhood End, northwest of Braintree in Essex.
Updates:
On Wednesday 5 August we held a drop-in information event at Stambourne Village Hall for the local community to learn more about the updated designs and construction traffic management proposals. The banners displayed at the event are available here.
We have held several online and in-person events over the past few weeks and are grateful for the feedback received to date.
Following the events, we have been continuing to update our FAQ’s, to share information on key issues and common queries.
We have recently added new FAQ’s on energy mix (Q 17.1), rooftop solar (Q 17.2), solar and farming (Q 2.5), the agricultural land classification of the site (Q 2.6), the engagement we’ve held to date (Q 12.3), the neighbour meeting (Q12.4), and solar and property prices (Q 18.1).
Braintree District Council (BDC) has provided its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion, following our EIA screening application. As we suggested, an EIA will be required, and the Council has now formally confirmed this. We will prepare the EIA and submit it alongside the planning application.
We are pleased to confirm that the Scoping Report for the Robin Hood Solar Farm was submitted on 29 July 2026. The report is available to view on Braintree District Council’s website under the reference number 26/01761/SCO on their planning portal (enter the reference number into the search box on the portal to locate the submission). We have also made a copy available here for anyone who wishes to read it.
The Scoping Report sets out the proposed approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the content of the assessments to be submitted with the planning application. Once Braintree District Council uploads the report on its planning website, we will update this page with the reference.
We’re still keen to hear your feedback, please submit any comments or questions via the methods outlined in the below section.
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Project Overview
The project would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power the equivalent of around 85% of households in Braintree Town, approximately 16,200 of the town’s 19,000 homes.
This project would play an important role in helping England’s important transition to a low carbon economy and will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Braintree District Council, UK Government, and international targets, including the legally binding commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050.
The point of connection to the national electricity network will be on-site, connecting to an existing 132kV overhead line which passes directly over the land.
We are keen to ensure that local residents and other stakeholders have an opportunity to help shape the proposals.
Our renewable energy projects are designed to a high standard, embed best practice and seek to eliminate or address potential impacts as a matter of course.
Public Consultation
We are currently undertaking a public consultation for the Robin Hood Solar Farm. We are consulting with specialist consultees, key local stakeholders, residents, community councils, and local organisations, to help refine our proposals.
Our virtual consultation room (June 2026) is available to view here, where you can learn more about the proposals. Consultation materials are also available to download.
On Wednesday 5 August we held a drop-in information event at Stambourne Village Hall for the local community to learn more about the updated designs and construction traffic management proposals. The banners displayed at the event are available here.
If you would like to comment on the Robin Hood Solar Farm application, please contact us in one of the following ways:
Email: write to the project team at consultation@thirty47.co.uk
Feedback form: available on the contact us page
Freepost: write to us at FREEPOST TC CONSULTATION (no further address or stamp required)
Freephone: you can call the project freephone voicemail line on 0800 699 0081 and leave a message (a member of the project team will call you back between Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm excluding public holidays)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Got a question about our plans? Our full set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) may have the answer you’re looking for.
Virtual Consultation Room
Please visit our online consultation room (June 2026) here to find out more about our proposals.
Consultation events and engagement
We hosted an online webinar on Tuesday 16th June from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, where we shared further details about our proposals and answered questions from attendees. We also hosted a local meeting on 8th July 2026 to further discuss the proposals and answer questions.
On Wednesday 5 August we held a drop-in information event at Stambourne Village Hall for the local community to learn more about the updated designs and construction traffic management proposals.
Benefits
Robin Hood Solar Farm will contribute towards the UK’s Energy security by providing a source of renewable energy, generated in England. It will also support the transition to a low carbon economy and will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with local, national, and international targets, including the legally binding commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050.
Transitioning to this form of energy generation (and other renewable sources) gives much greater certainty for the long-term future of energy supply to the UK, and helps reduce energy prices in our day to day lives.
The proposal will also achieve diversification of agricultural businesses and provide a net gain for biodiversity.
Consenting
Our current proposal is to submit a planning application in Autumn 2026.
As the Robin Hood Solar Farm falls under the 100MW ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’ threshold, Braintree District Council will determine whether the proposal is granted planning consent.
We are currently undertaking consultation with the local community on the proposals. Following this, we will review feedback and refine the plans before submitting a formal planning application to Braintree District Council. The Council will then assess the proposals and decide whether to grant planning consent in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act (1990).
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request has been submitted to Braintree District Council, which provides more information about the project and the likelihood of environmental effects.
Contact Us
If you have any queries or require further information about the engagement or consultation process, please contact us in one of the following ways:
Call: 0800 699 0081
Email: consultation@thirty47.co.uk
About us
Qualitas Energy‘s business in the United Kingdom specialises in the acquisition, financing, project development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects, with a mission to drive the transition towards decarbonisation. The company has a team of c. 30 employees operating across three strategic locations in the United Kingdom: London, Bristol, and Edinburgh.
Qualitas Energy is committed to accelerating the energy transition in the UK. Everything that we do, we do it believing in our purpose which is to enable a more sustainable and greener future for the generations to come.
We are committed to building a relationship with the community near the Robin Hood site.
You can get in touch through any of the following methods:
- Email: consultation@thirty47.co.uk
- Freephone: 0800 699 0081 (during normal office hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm excluding public holidays)
- Post: FREEPOST TC CONSULTATION (no further address or stamp required)