County council takes Beacon Fen solar farm decision to the High Court

Lincolnshire County Council has launched a legal challenge against the Government's decision to approve Beacon Fen Energy Park, a huge solar development planned near Heckington.

The scheme covers more than 700 hectares and includes solar panels, battery storage and a substation. It was signed off by the Energy Secretary on 21 August under the national planning process used for major infrastructure.

The council says the impact on local communities, the countryside and farmland was not given enough weight, along with the combined effect of several other big solar schemes across the county. After taking legal advice, it has now filed a claim for a Judicial Review.

It's the second challenge of its kind this year. The county council and North Kesteven District Council are already jointly contesting the approval of Springwell Solar Farm. In both cases, a judge will first decide whether the claim can go forward to a full hearing.

Council leader Cllr Sean Matthews said legal action "isn't something we take lightly", adding that the council wants to stop developments "eating up our best and most versatile farmland" and pointing out that no major project of this kind has ever been refused in Lincolnshire.

Source: Lincolnshire County Council press release, https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/2970/lincolnshire-county-council-launches-judicial-review-into-beacon-fen-energy-park