Final approval given for solar farm
It has been given the green light
Final approval has been given for a solar farm which will help to ensure a Lincolnshire farm’s livelihood.
Riby Grange Farm near Keelby is giving a quarter of its poorest-quality land to the project, and say the income will protect their food-growing business.
The 148-hectare project on Stallingborough Road would be able to power 16,300 homes, according to developer Island Green Power UK.
North East Lincolnshire Council unanimously granted permission for the portion in its area earlier this year, and West Lindsey District Council followed suit on Wednesday (September 19).
The solar farm can remain in place for 40 years, although some councillors had concerns about how the decommissioning process would work.
Harry Burt, the landowner whose family has farmed the area for over 50 years, told planners: “This will greatly support farming viability in uncertain times.
“It’s overshadowed by the worst drought in years, which is massively reducing yield.
“Costs are not reflected in prices paid to farmers. The cost of fertiliser has rocketed from £400 to £600 per tonne in weeks, but the price of wheat has only increased 15 per cent.
“Diversification is important. The solar farm will be predictable and consistent, and protect the five employees who work the land.
“It will ensure we can grow British food alongside British energy.”
He said the fields could be used to graze the farm’s beef cattle and sheep while also being used for solar panels.
The project will include a battery farm on the North East Lincolnshire side, and will need the Grimsby-to-Walpole grid upgrade before it can be connected.
Councillor Owen Bierley, who represents the area, said he was pleased to hear that it would only cover poorer farmland and would protect jobs.
“However, set against the background of climate change, conflict and food security issues, a temporary period of 40 years seems like a long time,” he told the committee.
“We are in a time of rapid technological advances, with nuclear fusion in prospect.”
Several members of the planning committee raised questions about how the panels would be removed once the 40 years was up, with Councillor Karen Carless saying she was “not convinced this will happen”.
The application was unanimously approved, and the project will have five years to begin construction.