3.5.3.2 Stratford’s PLCIC community objectives in the Drayton Manor Farm Project

Stratford’s PLCIC objectives that are mentioned in its AoA and accompanied CIC statement revealed that the company pursued the development of a sustainable community owned solar farm (Stratford PLCIC AoA; Stratford PLCIC Declaration on Formation of a Community Interest Company 2015; Stratford PLCIC CIC Report 2016).1 The solar farm is part of the Drayton Manor Farm Project (Figure 3.4), which is operated and maintained by both Anesco and Stratford PLCIC. In particular, Stratford’s PLCIC community objectives aspired to: (i) generate renewable energy for the community; (ii) protect and safeguard the environment for the benefit of the public; and (iii) support and promote the principles and practice of sustainable development (Art. 5, Stratford PLCIC AoA).

As such, the CIC sought to reduce local and national reliance on electricity from non-renewable forms of energy generation. Nonetheless, the company’s community objectives were further elaborated on in a CIC statement to the Regulator, which explained that the company’s objectives intended to benefit the community of Warwickshire and, in particular, the residents and the communities near the area of Stratford-upon-Avon. In doing so, it sought to develop a solar photovoltaic farm, which is eligible to receive FIT certification to operate as a renewable energy supplier in the national and local grid following negotiations with local and national electricity providers and distribution network operators (Stratford PLCIC Declaration on Formation of a Community Interest Company 2015; Stratford PLCIC CIC Report 2016). The generated energy could reduce national carbon emissions (Anesco public announcement 2016).2 Furthermore, Stratford PLCIC also sought to sell and transfer its ownership to the community of Stratford-upon-Avon following community consultation with local community benefit societies and the community at large (Stratford PLCIC Declaration on Formation of a Community Interest Company 2015; Stratford PLCIC CIC Report 2016).

In particular, Stratford PLCIC envisioned the development and operation of a scheme in which, after the completion of the solar panel farm and its full initiation of operation, the company ‘will be purchased’ either by a local community benefit society or by the local community of Stratford-upon-Avon (Stratford PLCIC Declaration on Formation of a Community Interest Company 2015; Stratford PLCIC CIC Report 2016). As such, Stratford PLCIC could become a community owned energy enterprise that could be directly managed by the community for the benefit of the community. Additionally, the solar farm could be operated by Anesco, which has the technical expertise to support the operation of the installation (Anesco public announcement 2016).3 However, as of April 2017, reference to Stratford’s PLCIC annual accounts of 2016, has revealed that Stratford’s PLCIC ownership of shares has yet to belong fully to Anesco (Stratford PLCIC Annual Accounts 2016: 18 at para. 19). Hence, as of this period, the ownership of Stratford PLCIC has not yet been transferred to the community of Stratford-upon-Avon.