A Lincolnshire solar farm which would be capable of powering 130,000 homes has been approved by the government – despite the concerns of leaders.
The 400MW Beacon Fen Energy Park will cover 1,600 acres close to the village of Heckington for a 40-year period.
Lincolnshire County Council previously objected to the size and location of the project, near Sleaford, which will take up 280 hectares of top-quality farmland.
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Applicant Low Carbon Ltd said the renewable energy would avoid 72,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and help hit government targets.
Councillor Marianne Overton, who is leading a campaign against large solar farms in North Kesteven, said: "It's a disappointing continuation of what we have seen previously from the government.
"They need to stop and think. It's creating an environmental and economic disaster for future generations.
"There will be little or no benefit for local people, and the solar panels could be on roofs. They have very low efficiency in Lincolnshire because we're not as sunny as down south."
The Planning Inspectorate recommended the 'nationally significant' project for approval after a lengthy inquiry, saying the need for green energy outweighed the downsides.
The final green light was given on Friday (August 21), with Energy Minister Michael Shanks saying: "Solar power is the cheapest to deploy and is our route to energy security and affordable bills.
"By securing more homegrown power we control, we are driving a generational opportunity to grow our economy and tackle the root cause of sky-high energy bills: our exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets."
The decision comes just weeks after the government approved the second-biggest solar farm in the country, the One Earth project, which stretches across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Lincolnshire County Council lodged its objection to the project's "overall size and scale" last year after almost unanimous condemnation.
Reform Councillor James Bean warned at the time it was one of many solar farms being planned for the area, saying: "That's a lot of farmland we'll lose."
Labour Councillor Neil Murray was the lone voice in favour, saying: "This would offer clean, renewable energy in our own country.
"It's a shame if we have to cover some Lincolnshire fields but it would benefit our kids and grandkids in the future."
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