Our Proposals

The Site

The site is located across several field parcels on a site near Robinhood End, northwest of the town of Braintree in Essex. The proposals currently comprise:

  • A solar farm producing up to c.60MW (AC) of electricity
  • Onsite grid connection at an existing pylon
  • Landscaping and environmental enhancements
  • A package of other community benefits through a designated Community Benefit Fund

Our Proposals

Our proposals for Robin Hood Solar Farm would deliver the following:

  • Supporting the local economy: We are committed to employing local suppliers and contractors throughout construction and long-term operation, ensuring that investment stays within the community and directly benefits local businesses.
  • Powering local homes: The solar farm would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power the equivalent of 16,200 homes. This is around 85% of households in Braintree town, which has c.19,000 homes.
  • Energy security: Projects like Robin Hood Solar Farm reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, protecting consumers from global price shocks.
  • Biodiversity: Qualitas Energy is committed to ensuring that the impacts on wildlife are minimised and that the project will deliver biodiversity and habitat improvements. The project will deliver meaningful benefits for wildlife through new tree and hedgerow planting, and will seek to deliver more than the required 10% biodiversity net gain required by UK law[1].
  • Tackling climate change: The Robin Hood Solar Farm project will contribute towards the UK’s 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[2].

Transport

Our current proposal is to route the construction traffic on a one-way arrival and departure system whereby arrivals would be from the north-east from the A1017 via Stambourne with departures to the west to the A1017 at Haverhill via Howe Street, Cornish Hall End and Steeple Bumpstead.

We are also proposing to create a new access junction for the Robin Hood Solar Farm directly onto Finchingfield Road.

Proposed one way construction traffic route plan

During the operational period of Robin Hood Solar Farm, approximately 3-4 light goods vehicles are expected per month.

The overall construction period is likely to last between 15-18 months. Peak construction traffic is expected to involve up to 10 HGV deliveries a day (which is 20 movements overall as each vehicle will arrive (one movement) and then depart (second movement). The peak construction period is expected to last for approximately 2-3 months. After this, HGV traffic is expected to be approximately 4 HGVs per day (8 movements).

The Site will require a transformer delivery – which will be delivered as a single abnormal indivisible load.

These measures have been informed by initial discussions with Essex County Council and the British Horse Society. We will continue to liaise with these organisations, and others, about the proposals.

[1] Environment Act 2021: Environment Act 2021

[2] Climate Change Act 2008: Technical annex – GOV.UK

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