Solar Farm public hearings

A series of public hearings about the Tillbridge Solar Project, which will cover land the size of 3,500 football pitches, will be held in the new year.

This is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) proposed for 1,400 hectres of land eight miles north of Lincoln in the district of West Lindsey. 

The solar farm would connect to the National Grid’s Cottam power station via underground cables and would generate more than 50 megawatts (MW) of green energy – enough to power around 700,000 homes.*

A decision on the proposal from Tillbridge Solar Limited will not go through the usual local planning processes, which means West Lindsey District Council is not the decision-making body. This will rest with the Secretary of State, following a six-month examination by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, whether to grant a Development Consent Order (DCO).

The project which includes solar PV arrays, electrical substations, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and a cable route corridor is currently one of five NSIP solar developments being proposed for development in the district.

West Lindsey District Council has formally lodged an objection to the project due to serious concerns over the project’s landscape impact, visual effects, and potential implications for local communities. 

Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee at West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Lesley Rollings said: 

“We are committed to our role as the host authority, working to ensure that our communities are informed and involved. We urge residents to engage in the Open Floor Hearing, where they can express their perspectives and learn more about the potential impact of the Tillbridge Solar Project.

“The Council will continue its efforts to advocate for responsible development in West Lindsey, balancing renewable energy needs with the preservation of local landscape, heritage, and community integrity.”

The hearings will take place in January 2025 at the Lincolnshire Showground, providing an opportunity for registered interested parties and the public to engage with the examination process.

Hearing Schedule

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (afternoon): Issue Specific Hearing 2 Environmental Matters: Water Environment & Flood Risk, Soils and Agriculture; and General and other Planning Matters. 
• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (evening): Open Floor Hearing 2.
• Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (All Day): Issue Specific Hearing 3 Environmental Matters: Health, Safety and Wellbeing; Landscape and Visual, Impact; Noise; Biodiversity and Ecology; and Development Consent Order.

Participation and Observation

All hearings are open to the public to attend and observe. They will include in person and a virtual login via Microsoft Teams to those who have pre-registered.

In addition all of the hearings will be open to the public to attend and observe, and will also be broadcast live on the Project Website for those unable to attend in person.

If you wish to actively participate in a hearing (either in person or online), you must register in advance by completing the Event Participation Form. The deadline for registration is 23:59 on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. 

The Open Floor Hearing on the evening of January 14 provides a platform for registered interested parties to share their views directly with the examining authority. While priority is given to registered interested parties, members of the public who wish to speak may also be heard at the discretion of the authority.

How to Register

To participate in the hearings, please visit the Tillbridge Solar Project website and complete the Event Participation Form

Further Information

For additional details visit: Tillbridge Solar Project - Project information. Regular updates will be provided in the run-up to the registration deadline on 7th January. 

*Solar farms produce up to 5MW on around 25 acres of land, which is enough to power 5,000 homes.