Solar farm plan rejected by South Holland council

Campaigners celebrated after plans for a solar farm at Holbeach were rejected

Plans for a solar farm in Lincolnshire have been turned down by South Holland District Council.

The public gallery erupted in loud applause after the decision was announced at Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, with campaigners saying a “precedent has been set” for future applications.

At the meeting, the applicant, AUK PE12 Ltd, contended the proposed 48-megawatt farm at Holbeach would be temporary and would significantly advance the region’s efforts towards carbon neutrality.

The committee unanimously decided to reject the proposal, citing the visual impact it would have on the landscape as the main reason.

A 48-megawatt farm was planned for 80 hectares (197 acres) of farmland north of Roman Bank.

The meeting heard the farm was proposed on was considered to be the "best and most versatile" (BMV) farmland north of Roman Bank.

The applicant pointed out that 97% of South Holland’s land is classified as BMV farmland, making it difficult to find an alternative site of lower quality.

Councillors were not persuaded, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), advocating that the land be used for farming.

They noted several other large-scale applications in the region, including a number of infrastructure projects over which the council will ultimately have no control.

South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth said: “This is not about Nimbyism...

“This is 200 acres of BMV land that should be used for farming, not energy. We should be producing more food, not less, particularly on the best land in the country.”

South Holland District Council's planning committee voted unanimously to reject the proposals

Councillor Henry Bingham expressed similar concerns, pointing to the recently announced National Grid pylon plan from Grimsby to Walpole, as he argued that Lincolnshire is being “raped and pillaged” by solar farms, overhead cables and pylons.

“The only people getting rich from this are the Chinese people making the solar panels,” he said.

Following the meeting, local resident Pete Savory congratulated councillors on the decision, as well as John Hayes MP who also objected to the development.

“He’s our MP and he stood up for us,” Mr Savory said. “You can’t ask for more. The precedent has now been set.”

Resident Jane Sturgeon stated she was “absolutely thrilled to bits” with the outcome.

“So far, it seems to have gone in our favour,” she said.

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