Asked by: Lord Fuller (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government for how many hectares, and in which locations, are applications currently being considered for large-scale solar farms under the 'nationally significant infrastructure project' regime; and what aggregate assessment they have made of the consequent effect on national food security and other competing land uses.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The application details for live planning cases are available from the Planning Inspectorate’s website. There are currently two live Nationally Significant Infrastructure solar cases:
West Burton: 886 hectares on the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border.
Heckington Fen: 524 hectares, in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire.
An Environmental Statement forms part of an application for development consent and includes a description of the likely significant effects of the proposed development on the environment, including on land use and any impacts resulting from the cumulation of effects with other projects.
These impacts are considered during the planning enquiry and weighed up in the planning balance when the Secretary of State makes his decision.