Concern over impact of large-scale solar farm

Councillors have joined campaigners in voicing concerns over plans for a large-scale solar farm in Lincolnshire.

The proposed 1,280-hectare Springwell Solar Farm, between Lincoln and Sleaford, would be about nine times the size of London's Hyde Park, with a capacity of 800MW, as well as battery storage.

The developers, EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy, said it could power 180,000 homes and help the transition to renewable energy.

Opponents said the sheer scale of the development would lead to the loss of farmland and leave an "enormous scar" on the countryside.

Due to the size of the project, the final decision will be made by the government.

However, at a meeting on Tuesday, officials from North Kesteven District Council agreed to send a list of objections to the planning inspectorate to highlight their concerns.

These include loss of farmland, the impact on the landscape and concerns about the safety of the lithium-ion batteries.

Councillor David Suiter told the meeting: "If you look at a map, it will leave an enormous scar on North Kesteven – the scale is quite alarming.

"There is a climate emergency, but putting solar farms on agricultural land is not the only solution," he said.

Councillor Marianne Overton added: "There are so many better options to fulfil net-zero requirements – this is just ridiculous."

She claimed more than 40% of the proposed site was "good farmland".

"It's a very big site – that's an awful lot of food we're not growing and will need to import," she said.

Another councillor criticised the planning process.

Councillor Ian Carrington told the meeting: "If you want to build a chicken farm, you need planning permission.

"But if you want to bring tons of highly toxic materials formed into batteries which may or may not be fire-safe, you can plonk them down in the middle of the countryside."

The proposals previously attracted criticism from local residents.

Local MPs have also voiced their opposition to large-scale energy projects in the county.

Public meetings are likely to be held later this year, and a decision could be made early next year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service,

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