Hatton solar farm: Campaigners to fight on after plans quashed by High Court

Campaigners have said their "fight is not over" after a plan for a solar farm near Horncastle was quashed.

Push Energy's proposals for land adjacent to Sotby Woods on Sturton Road, in Hatton, were approved by East Lindsey District Council last year.

But people living in the area fiercely opposed it and, following a judicial review, a High Court judge said the council's approval was "unlawful".

The council said the application would go back before the planning committee.

Councillor Ruchira Yarsley, from the Hatton Action Group, said while campaigners were "overjoyed" that the developer's plans for a 49.99MW farm on agricultural land had been thrown out, they were still "determined to continue the fight for as long as required".

"Our little community has come together to stand up to the big guy - we're small, but we are mighty," she said.

"We won the battle but the war is still to be fought, and we're gearing up for that."

She said campaigners were under no illusion developers would "rework their application".

"It will come back, the council will rework it. I'm absolutely positive they will come back with another recommendation for approval."

In the High Court's judgement delivered on 8 February, the deputy judge, Mr Ockelton, said the authority accepted its decision to approve the scheme was "unlawful as it failed to have sufficient regard to material considerations" for the development being proposed on "best and most versatile agricultural land".

Under their proposals, the developer wanted the farm to produce enough energy to power 21,000 homes a year, for about 40 years.

Push Energy had previously said their plant would help meet net-zero-carbon-emissions targets and enhance biodiversity.

However, dozens objected to the proposed scheme with parish councils lodging concerns around the loss of agricultural land, the impact on the landscape and transport infrastructure.

Councillor Tom Ashton, portfolio holder for planning at East Lindsey District Council, said the authority had "received formal confirmation from the courts that the original planning decision has been nullified".

"We are now in dialogue with the applicants and anticipate the delivery of updated information before the council will move to re-determine the application," he said.

"The application will go back to the Planning Committee for fresh consideration in due course, although a timescale for this has not yet been established."

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