‘Deeply concerning’ mega solar farm the size of Heathrow approved

Plans for a new solar farm the size of Heathrow Airport have been given the go ahead on some of our best quality farmland in Lincolnshire.

The Tillbridge Solar project, set to be built near the village of Glentworth in North West Lincolnshire, will span approximately 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) of prime farmland, and it has now received official approval from the Government. As a designated Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the decision bypassed local authorities, placing the final say directly in the hands of Westminster.

CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said: The approval of a mega solar farm covering an area of high-quality farmland the size of Heathrow Airport highlights a deeply concerning trend: industrialising the countryside with ground-mounted solar while too many rooftops remain unused. Recent CPRE research has revealed that almost 60% of the biggest solar farms are being built on the UK’s best agricultural land, with some of our finest landscapes needlessly sacrificed in the process.

We don’t need mega solar farms in the countryside. Previous CPRE research has shown that installing solar panels on the roofs of suitable domestic and industrial buildings, as well as on car parks, could easily deliver over 60% of the government’s target for solar energy. Delivering more renewable energy is non-negotiable, but delivering it should bring communities together, not drive them apart.