New Forest
We have supported energy activities in the New Forest since 2023 working closely with the District Council and more recently, with the New Forest National Park Authority and other stakeholders including the local Business Partnership.
Shared Prosperity funding was secured to fund the HEAT project to train 56 local people in thermal imaging and basic energy advice plus 23 people in Level 2/3/4 courses. 19 community facilities were supported with in-depth discussions about reducing their heat loss and energy usage. The funding was also spent with neighbouring community energy group, Energise South Downs, to gather residents in workshops to discusswhat they felt was needed for local energy supply, security and efficiency. We took this a step further by assessing large energy opportunities presented by the emerging Local Plan and integrating data from the local District Network Operator SSEN. This has revealed opportunities that will be appraised over the next year.
To enable energy generation projects we created Community Energy New Forest, a society of 5 professionals eager to create power generating projects. We supported this new group to bid to the GB Energy Community Fund for startup costs for a 200kWp solar project at the much-loved Brockenhurst College. If awarded, it provides an opportunity for local people to invest, and college learners to become part of a planned follow-onproject looking at green careers and understanding the technical strands of creating an energy generation project.
“It started with the work of CEP, and today we are delighted to see Community Energy New Forest well underway with its first solar PV project. The role that CEP continues to play in supporting and facilitating this effort is critical to making clean energy at the community level in the New Forest a reality.”
Steve Garner, Climate and Sustainability Lead, New Forest District Council
“Community Energy Pathways have been our expert advisors for over a year now and we have found their advice to be invaluable. Their team is fast, efficient and thoughtful and they have helped us enormously as we struggle through the complexities of technology, local authorities, Government policies, planning and finance. They provide us with advice; they share best practice from around the UK and correct us when we go down a rabbit hole. It is no exaggeration to say that we would be floundering without them.”
Mark Cullen, Director of Community Energy New Forest, November 2025