Solar farm the size of 2,600 football pitches near Gainsborough set to face opposition from Lincolnshire County Council

County chiefs look set to object to plans which would put solar panels on land the equivalent size of 2,600 football pitches.

The Tillbridge Solar project is proposed to cover large parts of countryside near the villages of Hemswell and Glentworth.

The developer says this will produce enough renewable energy to power 300,000 homes, but the local authority claims the drawbacks will outweigh any benefits.

The proposal includes solar panels on the land — near Gainsborough — for the next 60 years, battery storage systems and underground cables connecting to the National Grid point at West Burton power station.

It is currently being considered by the government’s Planning Inspectorate due to its size.

Lincolnshire County Council plans to voice its opposition at a planning meeting on Monday (November 4), saying the “overall size and scale will have a significant negative impact on the communities affected by the development.”

It believes there would be “a permanent and negative impact” on the landscape.

Council documents also say the loss of farming land would be “significant” when considered together with several other major solar farms proposed for the county.

However, it acknowledges the solar farm would lead to the creation of new jobs and aid the move towards Net Zero.

The project is a joint venture between renewable energy developers Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy.

The solar panels would cover a total of 1350 hectares directly south of A631 and produce 500 MW of energy annually.

The developers promise to “deliver cleaner, greener, and lower cost energy, while also enhancing the local environment and ensuring we are a responsible developer.”

They also say they’re working closely with other solar developers in the area to reduce disruption.

The Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation next year to the Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband, who will make the final decision.

He gave the green light to two major solar farms in Lincolnshire in July shortly after coming to power, including the nearby Gate Burton project.

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