RES has submitted its 600MW Steeple renewables project in Nottinghamshire for Development Consent Order (DCO) approval, with the application now accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
Located near the decommissioned West Burton power station at Sturton-le-Steeple, the scheme will connect to existing grid infrastructure and could provide clean electricity for 180,000 homes—equivalent to around half of Nottinghamshire’s households.
The project is expected to generate £224 million in construction investment, create 400 jobs over a 24-month build phase, and deliver a £13 million community benefits package over its operational lifetime.
“Reaching this milestone marks a major step forward for Steeple Renewables Project, which builds on the area’s longstanding contribution to UK energy generation,” said Will Bridges, RES’ DCO project manager.
“We have made substantial changes to our original proposals, including reducing the area used for solar panels and increasing buffers between residential properties and the panels.”
Bridges added: “We now look ahead to the examination phase and will continue to engage with the local community throughout the process.”
RES said the final design was shaped by extensive technical assessments and feedback gathered during two stages of consultation over the past 18 months.
The project now enters the pre-examination stage, with opportunities for interested parties to submit comments via the Planning Inspectorate and project websites.
The Examining Authority will have six months to review the application before submitting a recommendation to the Secretary of State, with a final decision expected by summer or autumn 2026.
