Invitation to see plan for solar farm

PLANS for a major solar farm in Lincolnshire have taken a step forward with the second round of public consultation announced.

The next round of consultation on updated proposals for Springwell Solar Farm, which would be located between Lincoln and Sleaford, was announced on Monday, December 11.

The proposed solar farm would have the ability to keep the lights on in 180,000 homes every year. Developers intend Springwell to be a temporary solar farm with a fixed lifespan of 40 years.

The panels would then be removed, the developers say, and the land would return to agricultural use.

Updated proposals, which will be discussed at the consultation sessions, include further design of offsets from homes and villages, including proposals for new planting, as well as an overall reduction in the size of the area proposed for solar panels.

Consultation will run for six weeks from Thursday, January 11, 2024, with all feedback to be submitted by 11.59pm on February 22, 2024. Feedback from this stage of consultation will be used to refine proposals before an application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

Backed by EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy, Springwell Solar Farm would make a “significant contribution” to the UK’s future energy mix by providing enough clean, secure energy to power the equivalent of around half the homes in Lincolnshire.

As part of the consultation, members of the public are invited to a series of public exhibitions to meet with the team behind Springwell and share their feedback. The exhibitions will take place at the following dates and locations:

■ ■Wednesday, January 24 - Scopwick Village Hall (4pm-8pm)

■ ■Thursday, January 25 – Ashby de la Launde Village Hall (3pm-7pm)

■ ■Friday, January 26 – The Venue, Navenby (12pm-4pm)

■ ■Saturday, January 27 – Metheringham Village Hall (11am-3pm)

■ ■Tuesday, February 20 – Blankney Old School (3pm-7pm)