Council raises eight objections to Fosse Green solar farm

North Kesteven District Council has raised eight formal objections to plans for a large solar farm near Lincoln.

The proposed Fosse Green solar farm, planned for land south-west of Lincoln near the A46 and Witham St Hughs, would be capable of powering around 110,000 homes, according to developers.

Due to its size, the project will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy as a nationally significant infrastructure project.

Of the 14 planning matters the council can comment on, it concluded eight could be negatively impacted, including landscape and visual impact, ecology and biodiversity, soil and agricultural land, fire safety, rights of way and cumulative effects.

Council leader Richard Wright said the authority’s role was to highlight local impacts rather than determine the outcome.

“We’re not saying whether it should be there or not, but there are significant issues that need to be addressed.”

Concerns were raised about the use of agricultural land for up to 60 years, and whether it could be returned to farming afterwards.

“We don’t yet have the evidence that the land could be put back into use at the end of that period,” Councillor Wright said.

Battery energy storage systems linked to the project were also discussed, with councillors noting public concern around safety and environmental impact.

“Residents are naturally concerned about battery storage and safety, and it’s right that those concerns are fully examined as part of the process.”

Councillor Wright said the council supported renewable energy in principle but questioned the scale and concentration of developments in Lincolnshire.

“We’re not against solar per se, but it has to be the right size in the right place,” he said.

The council’s assessment will now be submitted to government planning inspectors, with a public examination expected next year. A final decision could be made in 2026.