Nissan Sunderland Plant Biodiversity Project

At the Nissan Sunderland Plant, a once uninhabited area of marshland has been transformed into a vibrant wildlife habitat through a rewilding project designed to enhance biodiversity. The area now supports thriving populations of water voles, amphibians, bats, badgers, and breeding birds of prey.​

"We're passionate about sustainability so it is fantastic to be able to create an area for wildlife to thrive. We've carried out the rewilding close to where we built our first wind farm nearly 20 years ago and near our second solar farm, so this part of the plant has been the focus of our sustainability drive. It's fantastic to continue that journey and we've been amazed at how quickly and how many of the various animals have taken up residence." 

- Andy Barker, Engineering Manager 

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The rewilding project has taken over a year to complete and was carried out by the plant’s engineering team in partnership with solar farm developer Atrato Partners Ltd. The project involved the team removing invasive shrubs, revitalising the habitat, and building a viewing hide. Along with animals, a variety of flora has started to develop in the area, including bee orchids, white clover, cowslips, and garden lupins.

With its wind and solar farms, Nissan Sunderland Plant can now generate 20% of the plant’s electricity from renewable sources. As part of Nissan’s EV36Zero blueprint will transform the Sunderland Plant into a flagship EV hub, to bring together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.

As part of its global Ambition 2030 strategy, Nissan is committed to becoming a fully sustainable company, striving for a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive future. This vision aligns with Nissan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality across the entire lifecycle of its products by fiscal year 2050.