September 26, 2022 7.55 pm This story is over 33 months old

Council to fight for 12,000 acres of solar park farmland in Lincolnshire

Fears of losing “productive arable land in the breadbasket of England”
A drone shot showing the extent of the solar panels from Gate Burton Hall out. | Image: supplied

The county council will put up a “strong case” for Lincolnshire’s farmland as vast swathes could be turned into solar farms.

A total of seven large applications plan to convert 12,000 acres of agricultural land – the equivalent of around 8,000 football pitches.

The plans are all deemed nationally significant due to their scale, meaning they will go to the Secretary of State rather than local authorities.

Lincolnshire County Council will be emphasising the value of the farmland when the government makes a decision on them next year.

It has been talking to developers and emphasising “the particular importance of protecting the county’s best and most versatile agricultural land.”

“During the examinations next year, we will continue to present a strong case to protect it,” a council report says.

“We will be looking very carefully at [the projects], including the carbon balancing arguments of installing vast areas of solar panels on productive arable land in the bread basket of England.”

A handful of major solar farms are being considered around Gainsborough | Image: Island Green Power

There are a total of 16 National Significant Infrastructure Project at various stages across Lincolnshire, many of them solar farms.

The council says this is one of the highest volumes for any council in the country, and is straining its resources.

The workload is expected to increase as more projects emerge.

A decision is due to be made on the Boston Alternative Energy Facility in October.

This project has the potential to be the largest energy-from-waste facility in the country. The developer claims that it will be able to produce 80 MW and power more than 180,000 homes.

The report by Councillor Colin Davie is set to go before the full Lincolnshire County Council on Tuesday.