Consultation has commenced on updated proposals for Springwell Solar Farm.
This is the second stage of public consultation on the proposed solar farm with battery storage, which is located between Lincoln and Sleaford.
The proposals have been updated following feedback from the community and engagement with stakeholders, alongside ongoing technical work and the outputs of early environmental assessments.
Changes include further design of offsets from homes and villages, with an overall reduction in the areas proposed for solar panels. Areas not proposed for development would be managed for mitigation, ecological enhancement or retained for agricultural use – and are now proposed to make up over half of the site.
The updated proposals also include 8.6km of permissive footpaths, and plans for a community benefit fund which would provide £400 per megawatt of installed capacity for communities to spend on local projects.
Consultation will run for six weeks, closing on Thursday 22 February 2024. Feedback at this stage will be used to refine proposals before a Development Consent Order (DCO) application is submitted.
Springwell Solar Farm would make a significant contribution to the UK’s future energy mix by providing enough clean, secure energy to power over 180,000 homes* every year – the equivalent of around half the homes in Lincolnshire**.
EDF Renewables UK’s Director of Storage, Solar and Private Wire Matthew Boulton said,
“Community input has already helped to inform our plans for Springwell and will continue to play a very important part in helping us refine our proposals before we submit our DCO application.
I encourage everyone to get in touch, meet with us and share their views during the consultation.”
As part of the consultation, members of the public are invited to a series of public exhibitions to meet with the team behind Springwell and share their feedback. The exhibitions will take place at the following dates and locations:
- Wednesday 24 January – Scopwick Village Hall (4pm – 8pm)
- Thursday 25 January – Ashby de la Launde Village Hall (3pm – 7pm)
- Friday 26 January – The Venue, Navenby (Midday – 4pm)
- Saturday 27 January – Metheringham Village Hall (11am – 3pm)
- Tuesday 20 February – Blankney Old School (3pm – 7pm)
Members of the public can also visit a dedicated website: www.springwellsolarfarm.co.uk to view and download the consultation materials and visit a virtual exhibition on the plans.
Copies of the consultation materials can also be viewed and picked up at the following locations (please check opening hours before travelling):
- Sleaford Library, 13-16 Market Place, Sleaford NG34 7SR
- Navenby Community Library, The Venue, Navenby LN5 0JJ
All responses must be received by the consultation deadline of 11:59pm on Thursday 22 February 2024.
For further information, please contact:
info@springwellsolarfarm.co.uk
0800 038 3486
* Based upon the average domestic electricity consumption per home (temperature corrected) per the Energy Consumption in the UK (published September 2021, Table C9 of ECUK: Consumption data tables)
** Based on 2021 census data (homes within the Lincolnshire County Council area
