Council formerly objects to giant solar farm plan

FARM LOSS FOR FOOD FUELS CONCERNS

- BY JAMES TURNER Local Democracy Reporter

A COUNCIL has formally objected to plans for an 800MW solar farm.

During a meeting of Lincolnshire County Council's Planning and Regulation Committee on Monday (June 9), members set out their opposition to an application from Springwell Energy Farm Limited.

The company is seeking a 40-year Development Consent Order (DCO) to install solar panels on land near Navenby, between Sleaford and Lincoln.

The proposals also include infrastructure such as a battery energy storage system and underground cabling to connect the site to a proposed National Grid substation at Navenby.

Head of planning Neil McBride explained that the council is not the decision maker in the process, but rather a consultee, with the final decision to be made by central government.

“The council is a consultee in the DCO process and is required to provide its comments on the application to the examining authority, appointed by the Secretary of State, who - following a six-month examination - will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to whether the DCO should be granted or not,” he said.