South Holland District Council is not looking to challenge the decision to grant permission for a solar farm in the courts.
Green Energy International, which is behind the Caudwell Solar Farm, meanwhile says it’s looking to alter some of the conditions imposed on it while looking to start construction in ‘circa 18 months’.
The district council refused permission for the 49.4mw, 271 acre site in Holbeach St Matthew, but that decision was overturned by the planning inspectorate last month.
Inspector Philip Major said that despite the fact the farm array would be on Grade One agricultural land, it would be ‘relatively insignificant in the local, regional and national spatial context,” according to the appeal document, contrary to the SHDC reason for refusal.
As reported last week, Coun Henry Bingham, the authority’s portfolio holder for strategic planning said last week ‘there seems little hope there will be a stop to these’ following that ruling.
The council has six weeks to dispute the decision further. That runs out on Tuesday (March 17).
“Whilst the council is extremely disappointed with the final appeal decision from the Planning Inspectorate, it is not at present looking to challenge this decision through the High Court,” a council spokesman said.
A spokesman for Greenway Energy International told The Voice. “Following the successful appeal, we are now working through the planning conditions that need to be discharged and progressing the detailed design work for the scheme.
“In parallel, we are identifying and preparing to order a number of the longer lead infrastructure items associated with the project.
“At this stage, our anticipated commencement on site is circa 18 months, although this will ultimately depend on the timeline for discharging conditions and procurement.”
