Public consultation done properly

In 2023 I was brought in to support communications for EDF’s proposed 199-acre solar farm near Trelion. My focus was on local engagement, helping people understand the project, ask questions early, and share their views. Working alongside Cadno Communications, I shaped and delivered an approach rooted in clarity, inclusion and local knowledge.

This was a sensitive project, with land use, infrastructure and public interest all at play. My role was to build trust and make the process feel open and accessible, not corporate or remote. That meant adapting the message for different audiences, staying available to respond, and making sure no group felt left out of the conversation.

A large stone house with a wooden section on top, surrounded by lush green trees and a grassy yard, under a clear blue sky.
Logo of EDF Power Solutions featuring a stylized windmill graphic and the text 'edf power solutions' in dark blue on a light gray background.

Solutions 
& Approach

I worked closely with EDF and Cadno to support a joined-up strategy that made space for conversation. A dedicated project webpage was launched, along with a feedback inbox and an independent resident survey. These tools gave people multiple ways to ask questions, share views and stay informed as the consultation progressed.

I managed the consultation events on the ground and led liaison with local councillors and parish representatives. I also supported media engagement, helped coordinate household letters and postcards, and worked with the wider team to promote the project through posters, local press and social media.

Aerial view of a large farm or estate with multiple fields outlined in red, some with striped patterns indicating crops, and surrounded by green trees and fields.
A man wearing a white safety helmet and an orange safety jacket inspects solar panels on a solar farm using a handheld device.
A grassy field with a large tree and a bright blue sky.
Black and white photo of a wide open field of tall grass or crops with rolling hills in the background
A black and white photo of a grassy field with scattered trees and a rural landscape in the background, including a wind turbine and a house.
Solar panels installed outdoors under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds and the sun shining.

Outcomes & Impact

The result was a process people could trust. Communications were timely, clear and respectful, and EDF had the tools they needed to demonstrate meaningful engagement. There was no drama, no jargon, just steady, straightforward comms that helped make a complex project easier to understand and easier to talk about.

After the Trelion planning submission, I was re-engaged to support a second solar farm proposal in South East Cornwall. That work is now underway, using the same approach to local engagement. A planning application is due to be submitted in autumn 2025, and I continue to support the team as the project develops.

Solar panels in a grassy field under a clear blue sky with a few small clouds.
View of solar panels in the foreground with wind turbines and ocean in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A stone house with a wooden upper level and a chimney, surrounded by trees and a wooden fence.
A black-and-white landscape photograph of grassy terrain with hills in the background, overlaid with the text 'Llangarth Garden Village'.

Clarity for Cornwall’s biggest build

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