CASE STUDY
Since 2022, PLMR’s Planning & Built Environment team has provided planning communications support to British Solar Renewables (BSR), a leading UK renewable energy developer with more than 700MWp of utility-scale solar and storage successfully developed and built. As BSR continues to bring forward schemes across the UK, it requires strategic communications, community engagement and political support to secure planning consent and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, while upholding its Nature Protection Pledge and commitment to biodiversity.
We have delivered community consultation, stakeholder engagement and strategic political advice at every stage of the planning process, from pre-application through to construction. Our support includes political engagement, community events, media handling, planning committee preparation and construction communications. We ensure local communities have the opportunity to shape schemes ahead of submission and foster positive relationships post-submission and beyond. Most recently, we were part of the project team for Pudds Cross Solar Park in Dacorum — a 22MW solar and 10MW Battery Energy Storage scheme — where our consultation led to layout changes to minimise visual impact for nearby neighbours and our proactive engagement positioned the project as a positive local contribution to net zero.
Pudds Cross Solar Park was granted planning permission in 2025 and will generate enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 8,604 homes annually, offsetting approximately 7,620 tonnes of CO2 each year. The scheme will deliver 110% Biodiversity Net Gain and includes a £116,400 Community Benefit Fund for local initiatives. More broadly, our work has helped BSR secure consent for 88.79MW of renewable energy projects in the last 18 months, supporting the UK’s transition to net zero while maintaining strong community and stakeholder relationships.
PLMR’s crisis communications experience is second to none, and includes pre-emptive and reactive work across traditional and social media channels. We work with a range of organisations to offer critical communication support when they are faced with difficult and challenging scenarios.
