The approval marks the 20th project consent granted to Renewable Connections since 2021. Image: Renewable Connections.

North East Lincolnshire Council has given consent for a solar farm and battery project in the north-west of Waltham, North East Lincolnshire.

Renewable Connections submitted the application for the 43.7MW solar farm and 10MW battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in November 2023 after consultation with the community.

The development process included extensive community engagement including writing to over 1,800 local stakeholders, hosting a public consultation event, and consulting statutory and political stakeholders. Bradley Road Solar Farm was unanimously approved, following a recommendation for approval by North East Lincolnshire Council’s planning officers. 

The approval marks the 20th project consent granted to Renewable Connections since 2021. According to the company, the Bradley Road Solar Farm will provide green energy to the equivalent of up to 17,694 new homes.

The development process included extensive community engagement including writing to over 1,800 local stakeholders, hosting a public consultation event, and consulting statutory and political stakeholders. 

Renewable Connections has received consent for a variety of low carbon energy projects including solar, battery and hydrogen technologies.

Philip Hale, Chief Operations Officer at Renewable Connections said: “North East Lincolnshire Council and local elected members have been incredibly proactive, declaring their own climate emergency in September 2019 and launching their own Carbon Roadmap which sets out ambitious carbon neutral goals. 

“We are delighted that the approval of the Bradley Road solar and battery project will support the area’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050, delivering green electricity to the equivalent of over 17,000 homes in the first year of generation.

He added: “We are extremely proud that this project marks our twentieth consecutive project consent, bringing our overall total of consented projects to over 885MW. This is a huge achievement that will make a significant contribution to the UK’s ambitious net zero ambitions.”

Construction of the solar farm, designed to allow landscape, ecological and biodiversity benefits, will involve the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels. The project also has a community benefit fund of over £87,000.