The development proposal for the Meridian Solar Farm located near Spalding has received an extension of 200 acres, resulting in an overall coverage of 1,100 hectares across four separate pieces of land within South Holland. The initial proposal for the farm encompassed 900 acres with an ambition to generate power for more than 200,000 households. The project planners, Downing Renewable Developments, are currently welcoming public views prior to finalising their proposal.
However, the project hasn’t been without controversy. Local advocacy group The Meridian Action Group has been vocal in opposing the development, encouraging local residents to express their worries, particularly in relation to the use of agricultural land rather than previously developed sites known as brownfield lands. According to the proposal, only 600 of the total 1,100 hectares will be used for the installation of solar panels. The remaining land will be used for constructing necessary infrastructure.
Public consultations are slated to take place in May at multiple locations including Sutton St Edmund, Crowland, and Weston. If the proposal gains necessary approval, the solar farm could start generating sustainable power by 2029 with a projected operational period of up to four decades. This coverage was adapted from original reporting by www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk by The Lincoln Post.
