Community to Provide Input on Proposed Solar Farm Project

Local residents residing near a proposed solar farm, which is projected to surpass the scale of any existing facility, have received invitations to engage in discussions with the project’s developers. This initiative, known as the Tillbridge Solar project, is designed to encompass approximately 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares), a size that prompted councillors to recently state it “beggars belief”. The intended location for this development is situated near the village of Glentworth, positioned between Gainsborough and Caenby Corner within Lincolnshire. Community consultations are scheduled for January, aimed at collecting input from local inhabitants. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that, should the Tillbridge project receive approval, it would possess the capacity to supply electricity to approximately 300,000 households. Representatives from renewable energy developers Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy, alongside local residents, will have the opportunity to deliberate on the plans. Given its classification as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the ultimate decision regarding the approval of these plans rests with the government. The Planning Inspectorate is tasked with formulating a recommendation on its viability, with the final determination to be made by Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy. Proponents of renewable energy assert that solar farms are crucial for delivering essential clean energy as part of the transition towards Net Zero. Conversely, leaders in Lincolnshire have voiced concerns, alleging an inequitable concentration of such developments within the county. In 2024, the government granted approval for two additional large-scale solar farms in Lincolnshire: Gate Burton, located in West Lindsey, and Mallard Pass, situated in South Kesteven. All scheduled meetings are slated to take place at the Lincolnshire Showground, with an option for online participation. The complete agenda can be accessed via the Planning Inspectorate’s website.