Representation by Raimondas Padlipskas (Raimondas Padlipskas)
- Date submitted
- 5 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The UK’s energy security is important, however the countries food security, job security and local communities should be considered just as important. The West Burton Solar Project in question is just one of four Solar, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) located within close proximity of one another. Rather than four separate examinations, these projects should be considered as one, due to the combined and correlating impact on the community. Together this ‘one project’ would be the largest solar farm complex in Europe and would amount to 10,000 acres in total. The four schemes proposed are each bigger than the largest scheme currently operating in Europe (in southern Spain, where each panel produces twice the power of a panel in Lincolnshire). The West Burton Solar Project proposal, combined with the other three proposals will mean that over 10,000 acres of farmland is lost. This reduction will have a significant impact on food security and job security not only within Lincolnshire but the UK.