Springwell Solar Farm has secured a major planning milestone after the UK Government granted it a Development Consent Order (DCO), enabling the project to progress towards construction.
The consent follows a detailed examination process which, since the application was submitted in November 2024, has included extensive consultation with local communities, stakeholders and statutory bodies. The feedback gathered during this process helped shape the project, which has been jointly developed by EDF power solutions UK and Luminous Energy.
EDF power solutions UK’s Director of Storage, Solar and Private Wire Matthew Boulton said: 'This decision is an important step forward for Springwell Solar Farm. We welcome the Government’s approval following a thorough review of the project.
'I would like to thank everyone who took part in the public examination process and consultations. As the project moves forward, we remain committed to working collaboratively with local communities and partners to reduce the impacts of construction while delivering long-term benefits for the region.'
Located between Sleaford and Lincoln in Lincolnshire, Springwell will make an important contribution to the UK’s future energy mix by providing enough renewable, secure energy to power over 180,000 homes* every year once operational.
The Springwell project also includes 12km of new footpaths, over 15km of proposed new hedgerows and a community growing area which would be available for public use. A community benefit fund would provide £400 per megawatt of installed capacity to support local projects.
EDF power solutions and Luminous Energy will now consider the details of the consent and programme for delivery of the project, before engaging with stakeholders and the community on our plans to bring this project forward into construction. Once this is complete, it is planned for Springwell to export electricity to the national grid from 2029.
*Based upon the average domestic electricity consumption per home (temperature corrected) per the Energy Consumption in the UK (published September 2021, Table C9 of ECUK: Consumption data tables)
**Based on 2021 census data (homes within the Lincolnshire County Council area)
Source: EDF power solutions
