Council unlikely to fight appeal over rejected solar farm
A Lincolnshire council is looking into whether to withdraw its objection to a solar farm after new evidence came to light.
Plans for a 75-hectare farm near Sleaford were unanimously rejected in March by North Kesteven District Council over “unanswered questions” around archaeology.
The land on either side of Mareham Lane, Scredington, is deemed an archeologically sensitive area, and planners said there hadn’t been enough investigation.
The company behind the scheme – Mareham Lane Solar Ltd – appealed the decision in September, and submitted new archaeological information.
The council will discuss next week whether to drop their objection to the appeal, meaning construction on the solar farm could go-ahead.
The developer says it would have the capacity to power 15,000 homes.
Councillors had been concerned that trial trenches hadn’t been dug to determine whether the two patches of land contained important archaeological features.
Prehistoric, Roman and medieval discoveries have been made in the area before, and it is also close to the remains of a 14th-century stone cross which marked an important boundary.
The company says this work has now happened, and Historic England and the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire have dropped their objections.
A four-day public inquiry into the appeal is currently planned for February for the Planning Inspectorate to decide the appeal.
The planning committee will vote next week (October 18) whether to drop their objection, meaning the appeal wouldn’t be contested.
Conservative Councillor Lindsey Cawrey said at the meeting in March: “It’s clear there are extensive unanswered concerns about the archaeology.”
Peter Grubb, speaking for the applicant, responded it was “the common sense approach” to dig the trenches after permission was given as it was very disruptive.
Labour Councillor Linda Edwards-Shea also said at the meeting: “We have to think about the cumulative impact, with two other solar farms and Anglian Water’s reservoir planned nearby. There will be major changes for residents.”