A controversial solar farm in Lincolnshire has been approved by new energy secretary Ed Miliband – but the battle to stop it being built could go to court. The Mallard Pass Solar Farm near Stamford – set to be roughly the size of 1,100 football pitches – was given the go-ahead on Friday (July 12).
The team behind the 2,000-plus acre farm says it will deliver “renewable, low-cost energy” to more than 90,000 UK homes, but opponents have raised concerns over the potential impact on the countryside, with a campaign group set up to fight the plans. Following a letter from Mr Miliband’s department confirming the decision, local MP Alicia Kearns said she would be “considering the next steps available to us, including judicial review”.
The scheme has been met with fierce opposition. When the plans entered the second consultation stage in June 2023, Sue Holloway, the Mallard Pass Action Group chairwoman, said the “whole area” opposed the scheme. A spokesperson for the project, which is being helped by Windel Energy and Canadian Solar, previously said the team remained confident in the application.
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The secretary of state was expected to either approve or turn down the project by May, with the decision delayed after the general election was called for July 4. Ms Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said she was “utterly appalled” that Mr Miliband had approved the plans less than a week into his tenure as new role – pointing to the 93 documents submitted over the proposals.
She added in a statement shared on X: “This is a slap in the face for all those who value human rights, food security, upholding standards in business, and protecting our agricultural land. I will be considering the next steps available to us, including judicial review. I am sorry to all those who have campaigned so hard, for so long, and whose voices today were flagrantly dismissed.”
(Image: James Turner/Lincolnshire Live)
The decision notice says: “The Secretary of State has considered all representations received. Representations have been received from a number of IPs, including Mallard Pass Action Group and from the local constituency MP for Rutland and Stamford, Alicia Kearns, who have raised concerns about a number of issues, including (but not limited to) the ethical procurement of solar panels, the loss of agricultural land, the large size of the development, the lifetime of the Proposed Development and negative impacts on landscape, heritage assets and the community.”
It adds: “The Secretary of State has considered the overall planning balance and, for the reasons set out in this letter, has concluded that the public benefits associated with the Proposed Development outweigh the harm identified, and that development consent should therefore be granted.”
Opponents now have six weeks to apply for a judicial review of the decision in the High Court.
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