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Reminder - Final report available for North Somerset renewable energy consultation

Dear all,

This is a reminder that our final report summarising the workshops and online survey for our renewable energy consultation in North Somerset in now available. You can download a copy of it here.

We would like to collect feedback on how you found this consultation. This short survey gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts on the consultation.

To find out further information about the impact of this project on North Somerset’s emerging Local Plan, you can share your email address with us in the feedback survey above. On the 11th October, the Commonplace site for this project will close so your current news subscription will expire then.

If you have any further questions about this consultation, please contact communities@cse.org.uk

Best wishes,

The Centre for Sustainable Energy

Posted on 10th October 2022

by Centre for Sustainable Energy

North Somerset renewable energy consultation - final project report now available

Dear all,

Thank you to everyone who has joined one of our workshops or commented on the online survey for our renewable energy consultation in North Somerset.

Final report

We’re pleased to say our final report summarising the findings from this consultation is now available. The report details findings for each of the three areas we have engaged with. It also includes recommendations for North Somerset Council, based on suggestions that had local support.

You can download a copy of the report here.

In brief our workshops and follow up online consultation found.

  • In Congresbury and Puxton, community support for medium scale wind turbines (if community owned), a new solar farm and the expansion of the existing solar farms
  • In Yatton and Kenn, community support for a large-scale wind turbine to north east of Yatton and medium scale wind-turbines (if community owned) to the east of Kenn and new solar farm development
  • In Nailsea and Tickenham, no consensus (and a very mixed response) in terms of the possible development of wind turbines and solar farms

    • Your feedback

    We would like to collect feedback on how you found this consultation. This short survey gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts on this. To find out information in the future about the impact of the project on North Somerset’s emerging Local Plan, you can share your email address with us in the feedback survey. As outlined below, your current projects news subscription will expire when the Commonplace site closes.

    Staying in touch

    On the 11th October, the Commonplace site for this project will close, as we’ve now completed our work in North Somerset.

    If you’d like to stay updated with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, you can sign up to our newsletter via the box at the bottom of this page. We will be sharing news and information about energy bills and staying warm this winter.

    If you have any further questions about this consultation, please contact communities@cse.org.uk

    Best wishes,

    The Centre for Sustainable Energy

    Posted on 5th October 2022

    by Centre for Sustainable Energy

    Closing Consultation for Congresbury & Puxton, Nailsea & Tickenham

    Congresbury & Puxton and Nailsea & Tickenham will be closed for comments on Monday 9th May 2022. Thank you to everyone who has had their say.

    The Centre for Sustainable Energy will report back to North Somerset Council on the workshop and online consultations. The responses of the community will inform the council's early planning of renewable energy projects in the area. Please keep an eye out for further opportunities to comment on developments.

    Consultation for Yatton & Kenn is open for comment until 30th May 2022.

    Posted on 5th May 2022

    by Centre for Sustainable Energy

    Yatton and Kenn workshop outputs and consultation now live

    North Somerset Council held a public workshop (facilitated by the Centre for Sustainable Energy) on Saturday 2nd April, exploring the potential to increase renewable energy development in Yatton and Kenn. Local residents who attended the workshop gave conditional support for:

  • One large wind turbine (with an output of 2.5 megawatts), which could power 1400 homes over a year. For reference, Yatton and Kenn contain about 3600 homes. The location suggested was to the north of Yatton and the railway line, between North End and Kenn Moor Gate.
  • Approximately three medium wind turbines (each with at output of 1 megawatt), which could power 1700 homes over a year. The location suggested was on Kenn Moor, to the east of Kenn and south of Nailsea Wall.
  • A ‘solar farm’ of ground based solar panels, with an output of 17.5 megawatts. The location suggested was next to the M5 motorway, north of East Hewish.
  • Other renewable technologies which may be suitable for the area, such as rooftop solar PV panels for electricity, solar thermal panels for hot water, and an anaerobic digestor for electricity.

    • If you live or work in the Yatton and Kenn area, please share your thoughts on what was suggested through our survey here and comment on the map here.

    This consultation will be open until 31st May, 2022.

    If you have any questions, please email communities@cse.org.uk OR call us on 0117 934 1400 for a paper summary and form.

    Posted on 19th April 2022

    by Kate Elliott-Rudder

    Yatton and Kenn workshop

    Our Yatton and Kenn workshop will be taking place on Saturday 2nd April , 10:00 - 14:00 at Yatton Methodist Church.

    It will be run by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, an independent national charity, who are holding the workshop on behalf of North Somerset Council to find out your views on renewable energy. The workshop is for everyone, you don’t need to know anything about renewable energy. A free lunch will be provided. Please note the workshop is for the full duration, 10:00 - 14:00, not a drop-in session. An online consultation on this platform will follow the workshop for wider community engagement.

    In the workshop we'll be exploring:

  • Which parts of the local area should be protected from development
  • Could your community get more of its energy from renewable sources?
  • What types of renewable energy might be acceptable in your area and where?

    • After the workshop, we will share what was said, and other outputs, such as maps showing potential areas for renewable energy, online on this website. Everyone will then have the opportunity to view these and share their opinions. This consultation will be open for a month. The outputs from the workshop and consultation will influence North Somerset Council’s policies on renewable energy.

    SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE

    Expense claim

    North Somerset Council and the Centre for Sustainable Energy are keen to make the event as accessible as possible and remove financial barriers. The project has a small budget to contribute to people’s costs, for instance to cover babysitting, childcare, or travel (of up to £40). We'll meet expense claims until this budget is exhausted. If you wish to apply for this allowance (of up to £40), complete the form linked here and bring it and a copy of your receipts to the workshop. We will also have paper copies of the expense form you can complete at the event.

    Posted on 4th March 2022

    by Centre for Sustainable Energy

    Nailsea and Tickenham workshop outputs and consultation now live

    North Somerset Council held a public workshop (facilitated by the Centre for Sustainable Energy) on 12th February, exploring the potential to increase renewable energy development in Nailsea and Tickenham. At the workshop participants (all residents of the local area) gave conditional support for:

    • Two large wind turbines, around 100 metres tall, powering around 3,250 homes

    • A ground based solar farm, around 20 megawatt capacity, powering around 5371 homes

    If you live or work in the Nailsea and Tickenham area, please share your thoughts on what was said and view a map of the suggestions in this short survey: https://communityenergyplan.commonplace.is/proposals/nailsea-tickenham-proposal/step1

    This consultation will be open until 17:00 Monday 28th March.

    If you have any questions, please email communities@cse.org.uk OR call us on 0117 934 1400 for a paper summary and form.

    Posted on 18th February 2022

    by Centre for Sustainable Energy

    Congresbury and Puxton workshop outputs and consultation now live

    North Somerset Council held a public workshop (facilitated by the Centre for Sustainable Energy) on 23rd January, exploring the potential to increase renewable energy development in Congresbury and Puxton. At the workshop participants (all residents of the local area) gave conditional support for:

  • Medium scale wind turbines (up to 1 megawatt in output and 100 metres in height), ground based solar panels and community scale battery storage by the M5 to the northwest of West Hewish, on the condition the turbines are community owned.
  • The significant expansion of the four existing ground based solar farms within the two parishes with the potential to approximately treble their size.

    • If you live or work in the Congresbury and Puxton area, please share your thoughts on what was said and view a map of the suggestions in this short survey: https://communityenergyplan.commonplace.is/proposals/congresbury-and-puxton/step1

    If you have any queries please email communities@cse.org.uk OR call us on 0117 934 1400 for a paper summary and form.

    Posted on 2nd February 2022

    by Centre for Sustainable Energy