Near Heckington • North Kesteven • Lincolnshire
A large-scale solar and energy storage project, generating clean, homegrown electricity for over 100,000 homes.
Granted development consent - January 2025
Copies of all the documents and information relating to our Development Consent Order Application for Heckington Fen Solar Park can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
Following the decision to consent to the project on 24 January 2025, the site is moving towards build-out. If you are a local contractor involved in any of the following, please get in touch.
Lincolnshire is one of the sunniest regions in the UK, ideal for solar energy - even daylight alone can generate electricity. Located near Heckington in North Kesteven, our project combines a large-scale solar park with energy storage, advancing us toward net zero, along with a grid connection and upgrades to the Bicker Fen Substation. We use the latest technology, including bifacial panels that capture light from both sides.
Since October 2021, we've consulted local communities and stakeholders on the solar park plans. Early feedback (October–December 2021) helped shape our designs ahead of Statutory Consultation, held 30 June -1 September 2022.
Based on that feedback, we've extended our permissive path into a longer circular route and added a community orchard, with the remaining land set aside for biodiversity net gain to support pollinators. Full details are in our Consultation Document - check our webpage for updates.
The video above shows how the site layout has changed since our statutory consultation in Summer 2022. The most recent localised changes to our proposals can be seen at the top of this page.
If you are unable to watch the video, please view the Updated Site Layout Plan.
We consulted on our proposed solar park and energy storage facility between 30 June to 1 September 2022. This Statutory Consultation followed an initial consultation with local residents and stakeholders between 22 October and 17 December 2021. The Statutory Consultation included a new Site Layout, that was developed in response to the feedback we received during the first consultation period. A further (targeted) consultation was held between 11 November and 18 December 2022, ahead of submitting our DCO application.
Following the submission of our Development Consent Order (DCO) Application, we ran a further targeted consultation prior to a Change Application being made to the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State). As a result of ongoing discussions with National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (NGET), it became clear that additional works at Bicker Fen Substation are required to enable the grid connection. These works lie outside of the current Order Limits at the Bicker Fen Substation, which led to us undertake further consultation. The consultation period closed on 18 August 2023.
To view all of the materials produced for our previous consultations, please click the button below.
A copy of the Order as made by the Secretary of State for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero can be viewed here.
The Secretary of State's Decision Letter can be viewed here.
A copy of the Land Plans can be viewed here.
The Statement of Reasons explaining the compulsory acquisition rights referred to in the Order, can be viewed here.
As the proposed generation capacity exceeds 50 megawatts (MW), Heckington Fen Solar Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The consenting regime for NSIPs comes under the Planning Act 2008 (the Act) and requires Ecotricity to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO).
Ecotricity (Heck Fen Solar) Limited (the Applicant) submitted an application for a DCO to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in February 2023. The Application has been examined by PINS – the independent body responsible for examining NSIPs – who made a recommendation on the application to the Secretary of State (SoS). The SoS made the decision on our DCO application in January 2025.
If you'd like to talk to us about Heckington Fen Solar Park or view a hard copy of any of the above information, please contact us:
The Heckington Fen Solar Park would be built on land already approved for the use of renewable energy, with 22 wind turbines given planning permission by the Secretary of State in February 2013. Since then, we have been unable to satisfy the Ministry of Defence's radar concerns to date, which means we have not been able to start building the wind park.
The climate crisis needs fighting now, so we're keen to use Heckington Fen to create clean, renewable energy which contributes towards the UK's net zero targets. If the solar park is approved and constructed, we will not build the wind turbines.
The proposed solar park will generate around 3 times more electricity than the wind turbines would, and with the addition of energy storage we'll be able to store excess green energy to use when demand on the national grid is high.
We expect the solar park to have a lifetime of 40 years, during which we'd set the land not needed for the panels to wildflower, helping the pollinators and insects the country needs so desperately. After the operational life of the project, the solar park would be decommissioned and it is expected the land would return to intensive agricultural production.
We already have a wealth of information on the site from the previous wind park application, but more assessments have been completed to supplement these, including new ecology surveys which confirmed the land is of limited value to wildlife due to the intensive arable farming of the land which is normally used to grow crops for animal feed.
The Heckington Fen Solar Park will comprise solar panels, energy storage, an onsite substation and associated infrastructure, and a cable to, and extension at Bicker Fen Substation. The Indicative Site Layout shown in the Application can be found above, along with a video.
Founded by Dale Vince OBE in 1995, Ecotricity became the world's first green energy company the following year, kick-starting the global green electricity movement. We specialise in the development and supply of renewable energy, principally the development of wind and solar power and, more recently, green gas. Since 1996 we have been building new sources of green energy and now supply around 200,000 businesses and homes. Find out more.
Solar power with storage is the perfect complement to Britain's huge wind power resource. On average, we get more light in the summer and more wind in the winter, so it balances out across the seasons.
Heckington Fen Solar Park will be an important step forward in moving the UK away from fossil fuels and helping to fight the climate crisis, as well as providing long-term energy security for Britain.
The UK has ambitious climate change targets to achieve net zero by 2050, going further than the previous target of 80% reduction from the 1990 baseline as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. Legally binding commitments such as these mean that we need to increase our renewable energy capacity to achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions.
Community Benefit is not a planning consideration. However, in addition to the new permissive path, community orchard and biodiversity enhancement, a community benefit fund is being explored and could be provided as part of our development.
Any community benefit fund would need to be in line with our mission to end the use of fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis. This focuses on three key areas of the economy that generate the most carbon emissions: energy, transport and food.
The plans will create additional wildlife habitat and involve the planting and managing of new hedgerows as well as the reinforcement of boundary planting. Parts of the site will remain in agricultural use.
Water voles, dragonflies and pollinators are some of the species that would benefit from the proposed environmental habitat management plan, with generous setbacks to existing drainage ditches creating habitat corridors. You can find out more information about how impacts on wildlife have been considered when designing the solar park by viewing a copy of the consultation booklet. More detail can also be found in the non technical summary (NTS) which can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
