Plans go in for solar farm in Bicker Fen
Plans to create a 97-hectare solar farm at Bicker Fen have been submitted.
AGR Solar 2 Ltd hope to be given the thumbs up to begin work on the site, situated to the north of Northorpe and west of Bicker.
It is proposed to operate the site for a 40-year time period.
Another solar farm is also being planned in Holbeach St Marks.
The map put forward in the application shows land beside Ing Road and Cowbridge Road.
During peak operation the proposed solar farm would have an export capacity of up to 49.995MW.
“The applicant is proposing to construct and operate a photovoltaic solar array with associated battery storage and ancillary development for a period of 40 years, after which the site would be decommissioned, and restored to its former condition,” the Planning Design and Access Statement read.
The proposed development includes a grid for connection cable to National Grid’s Bicker Fen Substation located to the north and west of the location.
“Access to the solar array would be taken in part along the public highway, and in part utilising local private tracks that run adjacent to existing field boundaries.”
The 97.3-hectare site is currently arable farmland, ditches and drains.
There are no residential dwellings within the site.
The site lies within the jurisdiction of both South Holland District Council and Boston Borough Council.
The summary and conclusions of the report state: “Any limited policy tension is significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the immediate and pressing need from renewable energy generation in response to the climate change emergency and the Government target to achieve net zero.
“As such the proposed development should be supported, and planning permission be granted without delay.”
The report states that AGR Solar 2 has ‘undertaken an extensive site search exercise to identify potential locations for solar farms across the UK.”
“The Bicker Fen electricity generating substation, located off Vicarage Drove, and adjacent to the existing Bicker Wind farm, was identified as a primary search location due to available capacity and necessary land areas,” it continued.
