Government Approves Solar Farm Despite Local Opposition
The Beacon Fen Energy Park has received government approval, facing objections from local residents and their MP.
By BBC News
The Beacon Fen Energy Park, a proposed solar farm near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, has been approved by the government despite significant public concern. The facility is expected to power up to 130,000 homes.
John Wheadon from the Planning Inspectorate stated that there is an "urgent need" for the development. In response to the approval, Dr Caroline Johnson, the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, expressed her discontent on social media, describing the decision as "another kick in the teeth for local people who have campaigned tirelessly against it."
The developer, Low Carbon, hailed the approval as a "landmark moment." Managing director Mike Rutgers remarked that this decision, being one of the first major energy infrastructure approvals under the new Secretary of State, highlights the importance of accelerating domestic clean energy to enhance energy security and support economic growth. He also acknowledged the local community's engagement and expressed a desire to continue that dialogue as the project progresses.
Plans for the solar farm, which will occupy land north of Heckington, were submitted in May 2025. Local residents, including Mandy Goodhand and Stevie Johnson-Mansley, have voiced strong opposition, stating that the project would leave their rural retirement cottage "surrounded by 15ft (4.5m) solar panels," which they described as "devastating."
Large solar farms are classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), meaning that their approval is determined by government ministers rather than local councils.