Joint Statement
We have issued a joint statement to help clarify the current position of the Energy in Your Community project.
Read the full statement
We - Bath and North East Somerset Council, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Bath and West Community Energy and the University of Bath – are aware of a leaflet circulating locally about renewable energy in Batheaston and St. Catherine, and wanted to clarify the current position of the Energy in Your Community project.
This project is a community conversation to understand whether there is any local interest in community‑owned renewable energy. The approach starts with community views rather than a pre-selected site, and we are in the initial stages of listening and gathering feedback.
Local groups in Batheaston and St. Catherine applied to take part in the project to explore community‑owned energy opportunities through this National Lottery‑funded programme.
Energy in Your Community is not planning any specific renewable energy development in Batheaston or St. Catherine.
- No sites have been selected
- No proposals have been designed
- No planning applications are being prepared
If, in the future through this process, a community‑led idea did emerge, it would only progress with clear local support and would still need to meet all planning requirements.
We want to reach as many people as possible, so further engagement activities are planned over the coming months, both at local events and online. These will include a residents’ survey to gather local views. There will be plenty of time to get involved, and we encourage residents to take part so their views can be heard directly.
More information and project updates are available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/energy-your-community, including details of the residents’ survey once it is ready. Residents can also contact the project team at Community_Energy@bathnes.gov.uk or sign up to the newsletter for future updates.
Energy in Your Community helps local people explore the possibilities of renewable energy together. We can guide you from first interest in community-owned renewable energy, through technical fact-finding and how to manage a project if you choose to go ahead. Whatever your community decides, any work is always at your pace, and always with local people in control.
How we're working with your area
We chose Batheaston and St. Catherine as one of six areas we're talking with, after local groups registered an interest in learning more about community energy.
At every stage of the conversation with us, your community stays in control. You:
- learn about what's possible, and what's feasible
- make the decisions that matter
- choose where any benefits go
Progress so far
We have made good progress so far in our conversations with this area :
- July 2025:
Community groups were chosen through a competitive district-wide process to register your interest. - November 2025:
A meeting brought together those groups, and introduced the aims of exploring wind and solar opportunities in the area. - February 2026:
A Community Energy Workshop with 50 residents explored local opinions and explained more of the technical possibilities and constraints for potential renewable power generation in the area.
Who we're working with
We're working closely with parish councils and Grow Batheaston to explore how community‑owned energy could work here, if there is local support.
Together, we're making sure our conversations reflect local priorities and values, and encouraging everyone to join the conversation, bringing your ideas, questions and any concerns.
Have your say
If you'd like to get involved, email us at Community_Energy@bathnes.gov.uk.
Events and workshops
At the February workshop discussion, participants:
- talked about their local landscape, including the features, views and settings that feel especially precious
- learned the basics of what community energy is
- explored what makes a location more or less suitable for wind or solar power generation
- found out about the benefits of community-owned energy projects
There are no new events planned for now. Please sign up to the Community Energy Newsletter to be notified of all future events.
What happens next
Following up after the February workshop, we'll:
- share an online summary of the workshop discussion, for anyone who couldn't attend
- invite the wider community to respond to a survey, to make sure everyone's views are heard. Please sign up to the Community Energy Network Newsletter to hear first when the survey opens
- produce a final report this spring on whether there is an appetite to find out more about community energy
- take your ideas forward to explore the next steps in future workshops, if there’s support
This workshop and survey are a first step. If the community wants to take it further, local priorities will influence the next stages. Together, we're making sure all our conversations reflect local needs and values.
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