From the Ground Up – How one Lancashire village is powering Its own future
Bretherton’s partnership with GA Pet Food shows what happens when communities and businesses work together on energy transition
In a field between the River Douglas and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, it is hoped that something remarkable will take shape. The Bretherton Energy Partnership (BEP) is turning the vision of a community-led energy transition into a reality, it is creating a blueprint for how Lancashire communities and businesses can work together to take control of their energy future, reduce costs, and tackle climate change at the same time.
The Asland Walks Energy Park represents more than just renewable infrastructure, at the heart of the £27 million Asland Walks Energy Park is this unique collaboration: a dedicated community co-operative working alongside their neighbour, GA Pet Food, to ensure that renewable energy is generated locally, used locally, with benefits enjoyed by all. This partnership represents a shift toward local empowerment, where residents are active participants in a sustainable future that benefits both community and local industry.
More Than a Wind Turbine
The numbers alone tell an impressive story. When complete, the Asland Walks Energy Park will comprise a 4.2MW wind turbine standing 179.8 meters tall, 17,000 solar panels across 11 hectares, and battery storage capable of stabilising supply and storing surplus energy for when it’s needed most.
Through the Bretherton Energy Partnership, the site is projected to generate 25.7 GWh of clean, renewable electricity every year. This significant local output is enough to offset 7,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, playing a vital role in the partnership’s collective effort to reach net zero.
Roger Bracewell from GA Pet Food explains the business case: “GA accounts for around 25% of Chorley’s industrial CO2 emissions. We’ve committed to cutting our carbon emissions by 50% every decade to reach Net Zero by 2050. But beyond our environmental responsibility, this project makes business sense.
“Between 2019 and 2024, our energy costs tripled, peaking at £13.7 million. While they’ve fallen slightly since, they’re forecast to rise significantly again by 2029. The Asland Walks Energy Park will help us achieve 65-70% decarbonisation of our electrical demand while protecting us from volatile energy markets. This project secures 650 local jobs by giving us control over our energy costs. That’s what energy security looks like in practice.”
But the real innovation isn’t in the technology itself, it is the collective ownership and operation of the partnership.
The Bretherton Deal
Through this innovative partnership, the Bretherton Energy Co-operative (BEC) and residents of Bretherton will receive 5% of all electricity produced at the Energy Park, delivered directly to the village at no cost to the community. Transported via a dedicated 11,000-volt cable and stabilized by a local battery storage facility, this community-owned share ensures the benefits of renewable generation are anchored firmly within the heart of Bretherton. This 5% share is estimated to represent twice the village’s current energy demand, providing a significant surplus for the community to manage.
As a Community Benefit Society (CBS) run on a democratic “one member, one vote” principle, the BEC empowers residents to be active participants in the energy transition rather than passive consumers. Bretherton residents who join the Co-operative and install smart meters can access this renewable electricity at discounted rates resulting in electricity bill savings. These savings are designed to act as a catalyst for local decarbonisation, helping households transition from gas boilers to heat pumps and adopt electric vehicles, steps that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
Beyond individual savings, any surplus energy not used by the village will be sold back to GA Pet Food or the grid, creating a sustainable funding stream currently estimated to be worth £35,000 annually. This income will be reinvested into a Community Benefit Fund, with members appointing a board of directors to oversee its distribution. Potential initiatives identified by the community include grants for home energy efficiency, subsidised community transport, and the development of new youth outdoor activity areas.
The Co-operative was originally established following a £40,000 Rural Community Energy Fund grant from Lancashire County Council. This successful foundation demonstrates how public investment can empower a village to build its own green energy independence while securing a long-term legacy of social and economic reinvestment.
Building in Biodiversity
Critics of renewable energy projects often cite environmental damage. The Asland Walks Energy Park turns that argument on its head.
The project forecasts a 175% biodiversity net gain across more than 60 acres. That means the site will support far more wildlife after development than it does now as intensive agricultural land.
The site will feature new wetlands, hedgerows, species-rich grassland, and rewilding to scrubland. Wildlife infrastructure includes bird boxes, bat boxes, hibernacula for winter shelter, and wetland areas for amphibians.
Over 11,575 trees and shrubs have already been planted between 2022-25 to screen the site before construction begins, with a further 6,300 planned. Sheep will graze beneath the solar panels, which are mounted 0.9m above ground to allow this traditional agricultural use to continue.
After 40 years of operation, the entire site will be decommissioned and returned to agriculture.
Designed for the Community
The planning application submitted to Chorley Council in December 2025 is underpinned by twenty-seven technical studies and risk assessments, ensuring no detail has been overlooked. From shadow flicker mitigation and noise control to flood resilience and glint and glare assessments, the proposal has been designed to protect the village’s character.
This commitment to the village’s identity is also reflected in the technical infrastructure, with the proposed new Bretherton battery building that manages the local power supply being designed in red brick to blend with the conservation area.
This thorough approach is reflected in research conducted by UCLan, which revealed a 70% approval rating among engaged residents who expressed strong enthusiasm for the project’s social and economic potential.
Bretherton residents prioritised community-wide benefits over personal financial gain – supporting local retirement homes, creating youth infrastructure like bike paths, establishing a community shop or pub. The project became a catalyst for thinking about what kind of community Bretherton wants to be.
To further integrate the Energy Park into village life, the BEP have developed new public footpaths that will link Eyes Lane to the canal and river paths. These routes provide the community with enhanced circular walking and cycling loops, complete with benches and picnic areas. These enhancements are designed to encourage residents and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty of the area and the significant ecological improvements being made by the Partnership. The visitor hub located at Asland Walks will also feature information about local heritage, history, wildlife and live generation data from the Energy Park.
Lancashire Leadership
Maria Moriarty Eames, Head of Partnerships at Marketing Lancashire reflects on what makes this project significant: “The Bretherton Energy Partnership demonstrates exactly the kind of innovative, collaborative thinking that makes Lancashire special. This isn’t a large corporation imposing a solution on a community, or a community working in isolation. It’s a genuine partnership where a major local employer and village residents have found a way to solve their energy challenges together.
“What excites me most is the scalability of this model. If Bretherton and GA can do this, why can’t other Lancashire communities and businesses? We have the renewable energy potential, we have innovative businesses, and we have communities willing to take ownership of their future. The Bretherton model shows what’s possible when we stop waiting for solutions to be handed down and start building them ourselves.”
Bretherton has cracked that puzzle. GA gets secure, affordable, renewable energy to power its operations and meet its Net Zero commitments. Residents get access to cheap, clean electricity and income to reinvest in their community. The environment gains 175% biodiversity increase. Lancashire keeps wealth and jobs local.
Everyone wins because the partnership was designed for everyone to win.
What Happens Next
The planning application is with Chorley Council. If approved, construction will begin with general traffic entering via Meadow Lane and Eyes Lane to avoid congestion. The three 68-meter turbine blades will arrive one night via the A59, requiring temporary modifications to Bank Bridge that will be reinstated immediately after.
Grid connections have already been approved by Electricity North West Limited for the proposed renewable generation and electrical storage for Bretherton and GA. The infrastructure is ready. The community is ready. The business case is proven.
What’s being built in Bretherton is more than renewable infrastructure. It’s a demonstration that the energy transition doesn’t have to be something done to communities – it can be something communities do for themselves, with the right partners and the right support.
Roger, is a proud Lancashire Ambassador – this place led group of Lancashire-based businesses champion the county on the local, national and international stage.
Its members work collaboratively with Marketing Lancashire and partners to bring to life Lancashire’s strengths to new audiences. They are a great example of a county pulling together behind a strong Lancashire brand, showcasing why the county is an exceptional place to live, work, and invest.
The Bretherton Energy Partnership is a great example – it’s a very Lancashire solution – pragmatic, collaborative, community-minded and determined to build something that lasts.
As Roger concludes: “It’s about what we can achieve together for a better future.”
For detailed information about the Bretherton Energy Partnership Asland Walks Energy Park, including all technical assessments and reports, visit: https://brethertonenergy.co.uk/