Solar farm plan rejected over food-growing concerns

Developers wanted to install 62,000 panels on agricultural land in Welby

Plans for a solar farm near Grantham have been refused.

South Kesteven District Council's planning officer had recommended approval for the project, which would have seen 62,000 ground-mounted solar panels being installed on six agricultural fields by Church Lane, in the village of Welby.

Developers expected the 107-acre (43-hectare) solar farm to generate enough electricity to power up to 9,000 homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But the authority’s planning committee refused the application because of concerns over the loss of "rare" grade 3-rated farmland.

'Best land'

Councillor Charmaine Morgan, who chairs the committee, said: “Grade 2 and 3 land is rare and that’s the point, it’s the best land available.

“If we don’t provide food grown locally then we are importing it, so we end up again increasing the amount of gases going into our environment.

“There are significant issues across the county and country, all experiencing flooding that ruins crops.

"I think at the moment, if we don’t protect our local food supply we end up with increased costs.”

The solar panels, which reach up to 3.5m in height, have a lifespan of about 40 years.

Associated works and infrastructure would have included a customer substation, six combined inverter and transformer cabins, boundary fencing, CCTV cameras and a control room.

Lincolnshire County Council objected to the impact on the character of the rural landscape "including through glint and glare".

The planning committee deliberated for two hours before rejecting the application.

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