Lincolnshire solar farm gets the thumbs up

South Kesteven’s planning committee has given the green light to Island Green Power’s plan for a 46-megawatt solar farm near Welby, Lincolnshire.
Located between Welby and RAF Barkston Heath the solar farm will generate enough electricity to power over 14,500 homes annually.
The development of proposals for the Welby Solar Farm has been shaped by consultations with neighbouring communities and relevant local stakeholders.
Island Green Power (IGP) is behind the project, adding it to its list of solar and battery storage projects, including the Cottam and West Burton solar farms.
Sam Aitchison, project manager for Welby Solar Farm said: “We are grateful to everyone who took part in the planning process for their comments and feedback, which we used to refine our plans. We will continue to liaise closely with South Kesteven and local residents to ensure the project is delivered in the best possible way.”
Dave Elvin, chief development officer at Island Green Power said: “Welby will build on our strong track record of delivering projects that make a genuine difference to sustainability, supporting the UK’s transition to clean, home-grown, renewable energy.”
The application included a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessment, which shows that the solar farm will result in improvements to local wildlife habitats.
The project is expected to achieve a 21.21% gain in habitat units, a 19.87% gain in hedgerow units, and a 52.58% gain in watercourse units—well above the minimum 10% required for such projects.