Back to list Mallard Pass Solar Project

Representation by Mr W Blackmore

Date submitted
24 February 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  • At over 2,00 acres, the scheme would be massive industrialisation of a rural area of Rutland/Lincolnshire currently used for agriculture. The scheme is approximately the same area as the city of Lincoln. It is ten times larger than the largest existing UK solar scheme. It will engulf the village of Essendine and will dominate the villages of Carlby, Braceborough, Greatford, Ryhall, Belmesthorpe, and Uffington. The solar zones will contain panels 3.3 metres tall and be surrounded by 2 metre high security fencing, CCTV cameras, and security lighting. Green fields will be covered in black. - This land would be lost to agricultural production, in conflict with the Government’s June 2022 Food Strategy policy paper. Over 50% of the land lost would be Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, which is against Government Policy to use previously developed or contaminated land, or land of grade 3b, 4, and 5 for ground mounted solar. - The scheme plans to use nearly 40% of the land to mitigate the scheme’s impact on wildlife habitats. The scheme is required to show a 10% biodiversity net gain. By implication, the biodiversity of the land containing the panels will be almost wiped out. - Construction access to the site from the A1 will pass through Great Casterton past Casterton College (already a busy spot) then through Ryall down rural lanes not suited to heavy construction traffic. - The scheme is a private initiative for commercial gain. There is no direct benefit for the local people who will have to put up with the visual impact, construction traffic, etc. The reason the scheme is proposed here is because there is spare capacity at the substation near the railway at Essendine. - The headline output of the scheme is 350MW; that is its maximum output under optimal conditions. Mallards Pass Action Group says its average continuous output is likely to be 11% of that. The scheme is not a cost-effective way of tackling climate change, since it provides intermittent and variable amounts of electricity, requiring gas – or as yet unproven battery back-up to compensate. However, if approved, it will set a precedent for the many other speculative schemes being worked up currently across Lincolnshire and elsewhere.