Community benefits

Creating community value together

• A community fund of up to £25,000 per year for local environmental and social community projects.
• The community fund will be administered by a local panel to ensure it creates long-term lasting change where it’s needed most in the community.
• The OnPath promise to local businesses means that wherever possible, we prioritise local firms when contracting for work onsite. For the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park, this will include civil engineering, groundworks, electrical works and construction opportunities.
• £25+ million investment in the local economy.
• Direct and indirect jobs on-site during construction. 
• Annual business rates to be paid to the local authority to help deliver local public services.

Barnsdale Solar Energy Park will provide the following benefits:

Environmental benefits

At OnPath Energy, we create positive benefits for the landscape, the nature, and wildlife surrounding our projects. We work closely with communities to identify their environmental needs and with environmental specialists to help enhance existing habitats and boost the resilience of our natural ecosystems.  

The Barnsdale Solar Energy Park will deliver the following benefits:

• 400,000+ tonnes of CO2 saved over the lifespan of Barnsdale Solar Energy Park.
• Additional tree and hedgerow planting at the site.
• Creation of a wildflower meadow on the ground below the solar panels.
• At least a 106% net biodiversity gain as a result of environmental enhancements at the site.
• Linking with the adjacent nature reserve and supporting and enhancing the Leeds Habitat Network along the Sheffield Beck running through the site.

A Habitat Management Plan (HMP) will be prepared for the site and this will include additional tree and hedgerow planting to offer screening and enhance the environment and also large areas of grassland including wildflower grassland. It is anticipated that a significant net gain in biodiversity can be achieved on the site including a net change of around +85% for overall habitat units and +30% for hedgerow units.