Shifting Mindsets from Compliance to Collaboration

For years, solar photovoltaic (PV) has been widely seen as a straightforward ‘green’ solution. At the same time, expectations of what ‘sustainable’ means in practice are rising.

Simply generating clean renewable energy is no longer enough to be ‘green’ or ‘good’ for the climate and society. Attention is shifting, and schemes are being challenged to consider what long-term benefits they can bring to those communities that are impacted the most, in a wider move towards whole system accountability.

The Status-Quo

In planning terms, solar farms are temporary infrastructure. But, with a lifetime that extends 30-40 years, to local people, they have a lasting impact on landscapes, perceptions of place, and future growth.

So, if we consult these communities just ahead of consent, when plans are almost finalised, we undermine these impacts. It makes the consultation a tick-box exercise that might meet minimum expectations but falls short of building the trust needed for long-term success. Instead, we need to fully appreciate the true duration of such a scheme and work alongside residents to reposition the relationship from consultees to long-term collaborative partners.

Start by learning

Effective engagement only happens when we understand the communities we’re going into – how they communicate, where trust sits, which voices are often missing. By taking time to learn, we can identify important local groups and trusted conduits, and why some people don’t usually participate.

It also gives us time to understand local priorities. No two communities are the same: priorities are shaped by unique combinations of demographics, infrastructure, local services, history and lived experience. Listening first enables us to align plans with what genuinely matters, rather than relying on assumptions.

In starting here, we can build a more equitable approach. We can remove barriers early and have honest conversations about constraints and impacts, which ultimately builds trust and sets clear expectations from the outset.

How Community Benefit Funds can help

Community Benefit Funds are voluntary financial contributions, often delivered in the form of gifts, grants or donations, from renewable energy developers to local people living near their new development.

It’s a well-established feature of solar schemes, but with their voluntary nature and lack of structure and consistency in delivery, they generate the risk of local scepticism. It can feel transactional – compensation or a ‘pay-off’ for the impact of a development, rather than a benefits-led partnership opportunity.

Positively, the Government are already discussing future changes, last year consulting on the Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure Working Paper. It sets out a welcome structure to amounts, administration and delivery of the funds, ensuring a fairer and more equitable approach for communities impacted.

They want Community Benefit Funds to be guided by ‘lasting legacy’ where money is a strategic tool to unlock meaningful benefits to those most impacted over the long term. But to do that we need to work with those communities – identifying priorities and co-designing delivery so any funding supports outcomes rather than one off initiatives.

Competitive advantage in a crowded market

As solar capacity continues to exceed available grid connections and developable sites, differentiation matters. Evidence of meaningful engagement and positive community relationships can influence planning outcomes, reduce risk of opposition, and strengthen a project’s reputation.

In this context, adopting a social value approach to engagement can offer a competitive advantage. Developers who embed community benefit and engagement into project design from the outset are better positioned respond to scrutiny. This requires a shift in mindset: from solar development as a finite process for temporary infrastructure, to development as a long-term relationship.

If the UK’s solar transition is to be truly sustainable, balancing environmental ambition with social responsibility, it is critical. We need to take engagement seriously, working collaboratively with communities and delivering Community Benefit Funds in a fair and meaningful way, so we can contribute to an energy transition that supports both clean power production and stronger, more resilient communities.

Our Engagement & Social Value experts can work with you to embed meaningful engagement from the outset, develop bespoke strategies, and curate approaches that put long-term benefit generation at the core. If you want to learn more about how we can support your next scheme, meet us at All-Energy 2026 in Glasgow.