CASE STUDY | Relode Power Parks

When Relode approached Howie, Kent and Co in early 2024 to find multiple sites to kick start their network of Power Parks, it was the beginning of a fast paced and successful partnership.

In just over a year, Howie, Kent & Co had delivered and signed options on the full brief – identifying five sites in Relode’s proposed search areas with great access to major transport corridors.

This project was something that no energy developer in the UK has done before; built on trust and a “can-do” approach, the brief had its challenges, but the Howie, Kent & Co team delivered.

We chatted to Clare Horgan, Relode’s Development Director and Howie, Kent and Co’s Becky Evans to find out more.

The Background

Relode is building a network of Power Parks to help energy hungry businesses electrify at the speed and scale needed for the UK to compete globally.

The company was founded by core members of the Pivot Power team, who pioneered transmission-connected battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging on the UK grid.

Many of them had worked with Duncan Howie previously, including Mikey Clark (CEO) and Martin Cole (Chief Development Officer).

When the Relode team were ready to find sites, there was “no question in our minds who we would be going to for anything land related but Howie, Kent and Co,” commented Clare.

The Objective

Relode approached Howie, Kent and Co for their expertise in land acquisition to support their rapid expansion plans. The key objectives were:

• Site identification and securing of land suitable for Power Parks, located close to target substations with easy access from major transport routes, specifically to support public eHGV charging hubs.
• Ensure sites could be developed in time for NESO (National Energy System Operator) deadlines.

The Challenges

The project presented several significant challenges:

• Time constraints: Heads of terms needed to be agreed within 2–6 months, with legally binding option agreements completed within a matter of months.
• Logistical requirements: Identifying multiple sites that met all criteria, including access to grid connections and transport routes, with flat and unconstrained land.

The Approach

Howie, Kent &Co leveraged their knowledge of site acquisition strategies to support Relode throughout the process. Key actions included:

• Securing heads of terms for all sites in under 12 months – a notably fast timeline for complex land transactions.
• Managing negotiation and documentation of options, ensuring legally binding agreements were finalised efficiently.

The Outcome

• By summer 2025, five strategic Power Park sites had been successfully identified across the UK.

All sites are now awaiting confirmation of accelerated dates in NESO’s connections reform process with pre-app planning discussions underway. Relode aims to have its first Power Parks live from 2030.

Relode Reflections

Clare from Relode reflected on the Power Park search as an ambitious and pioneering undertaking, one that required close collaboration, adaptability, and a shared willingness to work together.

“We are doing something completely new,” Clare explained. “That meant bringing everyone along on the journey with us, and luckily, Howie, Kent & Co were more than up for the challenge.”

Clare emphasised that openness, flexibility and trust were central to the partnership’s success. “The level of trust we have with Howie, Kent & Co is huge,” she noted. “They thrive on challenging projects and working with their small team really gave us an advantage.” The relationship was strengthened by genuine communication and accessibility.

“I love that I can just pick up the phone to James or Duncan – it’s that simple,” Clare said. “Culturally, our organisations are very similar. We both want to nurture professional and personal relationships, and it’s easy to take that for granted.”

One of the standout moments was the team’s success in meeting a critical deadline over the summer.“Howie, Kent & Co’s can-do attitude made all the difference,” Clare recalled. She also praised the team’s genuine approach to landowners, highlighting how their authenticity and rural backgrounds built invaluable relationships. “Their approach to landowners is so genuine and real,” she said. “The relationships we’ve built through them have been incredible. Landowners really value that personal touch, and to have someone who can be on site and speak their language makes all the difference.”

This close collaboration ultimately led to a remarkable achievement for the project. “We got five out of five options signed in a matter of months. It was an incredible achievement for everyone involved.”

Clare also highlighted the practical expertise the team brought during the legal and option agreement stages. “When we were going through the option and legal document phase, there were things in there that Howie, Kent & Co knew like the back of their hand. Becky in particular was brilliant in those conversations on things like crop loss and access rights.”

Looking ahead, Clare noted that while there’s more work to do as the projects move into the next stage, the foundations Relode have built with Howie, Kent & Co gives them confidence to advance to their next goal – 10 more Power Park sites across the UK.