Plans for a new solar farm covering 112 hectares (267 acres) at Holbeach St Matthew look set to be refused.
Green Energy International is looking to build the infrastructure on agricultural land at Caudwell Farm which it says would power 16,581 homes.
The proposal farm aims to deliver 49.9MW of power, 0.1MW below the threshold of what qualifies as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and is decided by central government.
Instead, South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee will decide but it has been recommended to refuse the application when it decides on the matter next Wednesday (March 4).
The report by planning officer Maxine Simmonds states that “the applicant argues that the agricultural land quality will not be adversely affected in the long term apart from the modest areas,” and that it equates to ‘0.005 per cent of South Holland’s prime land and 0.0009 per cent of England’s.”
Natural England raised no objection saying it would ‘unlikely to lead to significant long term loss’ due to the panels being temporary, aimed to last for 40 years.
But the report continues: “It is considered that while there are economic and climate change benefits to the proposed solar farm, the benefits are outweighed by the harm to the use of grade one land for a period of 40 years where this land cannot be optimised for arable production.”
The South Holland Drainage Board objected citing flooding worries, Holbeach Parish Council and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust which said it was too close to The Wash naturally protected area.
There were also 53 letters of objection.
Sir John Hayes also said that he was ‘disappointed’ the application had been submitted near where another proposed.
“This proposal will have a detrimental impact on the Fenland landscape and local amenity changing the character and nature of the surrounding environment forever.”
The report states that the scheme would bring in £80,000 of business rates annually.
It continues to say that the applicant had agreed to put a footpath around the site, provide a pond, outdoor classroom and put free solar panels on a nearby school and hold classes.
District council leader and ward councillor for the area Nick Worth said: “It talks about a community sum of £100,000 but they clearly need to speak to the developers of the Holbeach St Marks proposal who are proposing £400,000 over 20 years, so they need to revise their sums.
“The cumulative effect of this application and the application just a few fields away in Holbeach St Marks means that there are over 200 acres of prime agricultural land being taken out of production, in this case for a ‘temporary’ period of 40 years.
“How can 40 years be possible be described as temporary? It is half a life time.
“South Holland is clearly being targeted for solar farms and a line has to be drawn in the sand.
“We have the best agricultural land in the country and due to the cost of imported food we must grow our own.
“There is plenty of brownfield land where solar panels can go.”
