There are four proposed solar projects for West Lindsey.
Low Carbon's Gate Burton Energy Park, Island Green Power's Cottam Solar Project and West Burton's Solar Project, and Tillbridge Solar Limited's Tillbridge Solar Project.
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) are the Government Agency responsible for examining applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The National Infrastructure Planning website, managed by PINS, contains helpful advice on the Application Process (including how to participate in the process), as well as other Guidance and Advice.
Each Project has it’s own webpage on the National Infrastructure Planning website:
Gate Burton Energy Park
Low Carbon are looking to develop the Gate Burton Energy Park, which is a proposed solar and energy park, anticipated as having a generation capacity of 500MW.
It would be built on agricultural land wholly contained within the boundary of one site comprising approximately 684 hectares (1,690 acres). The site is located in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire approximately four kilometres south of Gainsborough, near the communities of Gate Burton, Knaith Park and Willingham-by-Stow.
The electricity generated by the energy park is expected to be exported into the existing national electricity transmission system at National Grid’s 400kV Cottam substation, in the district of Bassetlaw.
The Planning Inspectorate confirmed on 22 February 2023 that this project has been accepted for examination.
The examination commenced on 4 July 2023. Hearings were held in the week commencing 21 August 2023. The examination formally closed on 4 January 2024. The Examining Authority’s findings and conclusions arising from the examination, together with my recommendation will be sent to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero no later than 4 April 2024. The Secretary of State will then have 3 months to make their final decision (no later than 4 July 2024).
See the Planning Inspectorate's Gate Burton Energy Park pages for further details of the examination programme.
Further information
Cottam Solar Project
Island Green Power (IGP) are proposing two projects that cross the county border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The Cottam Solar Project is anticipated as having a generation capacity of 600MW. It is proposed across three sites, totalling 1,270ha in area. Cottam 1 (894Ha) would be located on land between Sturton by Stow and Ingham. Cottam 2 (132Ha) on land to the north-east of Corringham; and Cottam 3 (244Ha) to the east of Blyton and Pilham.
The electricity generated by the energy park is expected to be exported into the existing national electricity transmission system at National Grid’s 400kV Cottam substation, in the district of Bassetlaw.
The Planning Inspectorate confirmed on 9 February 2023 that this project has been accepted for examination.
The examination formally commenced on Tuesday 5 September 2023, and the Examining Authority (ExA) is under a duty to complete the examination by Tuesday 5 March 2024. The Secretary of State is then required to have determined the application within 6 months of the examination closing.
Public Hearings were held in the week commencing 4 December 2023.
Further details can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's Cottam Solar Project pages.
Further information
West Burton Solar Project
Island Green Power (IGP) are proposing two projects that cross the county border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The West Burton Solar Project is anticipated as having a generation capacity of up to 480MW. It is proposed across three sites within West Lindsey District, totalling 788Ha in area. West Burton 1 (90Ha), 2 (328ha) and 3 (370Ha) are clustered within a circa 8.5km stretch of countryside located east of the River Trent, south of the A1500 and north of Saxilby. West Burton 4 (247Ha) in Bassetlaw District has now been removed from the project. Each of the sites will be connected by underground cables.
This will allow for energy generated to be transferred to the grid connection point at West Burton Power Station, in the district of Bassetlaw.
The Planning Inspectorate confirmed on 18 April 2023 that this project has been accepted for examination.
On Thursday 7 September 2023, the Examining Authority (ExA) announced their procedural decision to adjourn the preliminary meeting (held on 7 September 2023) and delay the start of the examination. The Preliminary meeting recommenced and completed on Wednesday 8 November 2023 thereby formally commencing the start of the examination. The ExA is under a duty to complete the examination within 6 months – by Wednesday 8 May 2024.
The Secretary of State is required to have determined the application within 6 months of the examination closing.
The examination timetable can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s West Burton Solar Project pages. Issue specific hearings are scheduled to take place on 23 January (draft Development Consent Order) at Hemswell Court, Hemswell Cliff; and 7-9 February (Environmental Matters) at Thonock Park, Gainsborough.
A public Open Floor Hearing is also scheduled for the evening of Wednesday 24 January at Hemswell Court.
Further information
Tillbridge Solar Project
Tillbridge Solar is a proposed project located on land to south, east and south east of Gainsborough and to the north west of Lincoln. The electricity generated (up to 500MW anticipated) from the project would then connect to National Grid’s Cottam substation in Bassetlaw District.
The developer undertook statutory public consultation from May to July 2023.
It is anticipated that the developer will submit their application in Spring 2024.
Further information
One Earth Solar Project
The One Earth Solar Farm proposes a new solar photovoltaic farm and associated battery energy storage that would import and export up to 740MW of electricity (the developer expects that this would be able to supply up to 200,000 UK homes). Grid connection would be made to the high Marnham sub-station in Bassetlaw District.
The development is proposed by PS Renewables and Ørsted.
The site is proposed on land to the south of Newton on Trent, and would fall within the Districts of West Lindsey, Bassetlaw, and Newark & Sherwood. It would lie within both Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire counties.
The developer undertook (non-statutory) public consultation between 27 September and 8 November 2023.
The developer has indicated that formal statutory consultation will be likely to take place in Spring 2024, and that they intend to submit their application for a Development Consent Order to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate in winter 2024, with the Public Examination then likely to take place in 2025.