Communities set to benefit from renewable energy developments under new council policy

The policy was adopted by West Lindsey District Council's Thriving Places Committee on Monday 14 July. It sets out the council's expectations for community benefit contributions from large-scale renewable energy schemes operating in the district.

West Lindsey is home to one of the largest concentrations of solar developments in England. Five Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) have now received development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero: Gate Burton, Cottam, West Burton, Tillbridge and, most recently, One Earth.

Together, the schemes have a combined capacity of more than 2.5 gigawatts, although none of them have started construction.

There is currently no legal requirement for developers to provide community benefits. While the Government has proposed a national approach, it is not expected to come into effect before the end of 2027 and may not apply to projects that have already received consent.

To address this, the council's policy seeks community benefit contributions of at least £500 per megawatt of installed capacity each year, linked to inflation, for the full operational lifetime of each development. Funds would be directed to the communities hosting the infrastructure.

Councillor Peter Morris, Chair of the Thriving Places Committee, added: "This was a unanimous decision and reflects a shared commitment to securing the best outcome for our communities.

"Town and parish councils will play a key role in helping shape how any future funding is used. We want local people to have a strong voice in decisions that affect their areas and will keep communities informed as discussions progress."

Across the district's five consented schemes, the potential value of these contributions could amount to tens of millions of pounds over the lifetime of the projects.

The policy aligns with a similar approach adopted by North Kesteven District Council, helping to create a consistent framework across Central Lincolnshire. Similar community benefit arrangements have already been secured elsewhere in the country.

The council has stressed that the policy is entirely separate from the planning process and does not influence planning decisions or take a position on individual developments.

Councillor Stephen Bunney, chair of the council's Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group, said: “Whatever people’s views on large-scale solar developments, there was agreement across the committee on one important principle. Communities that will live alongside this infrastructure for many years should receive a fair share of the benefits.

"This policy is about making sure local people see a lasting return from developments in their area. We are now writing to developers of every consented scheme and asking them to work with us to deliver on the commitments they have already made publicly.”

Potential projects could include energy efficiency measures, community energy schemes, green skills programmes, nature recovery initiatives and improvements to community facilities.