The planning team at Axis is delighted that their planning application – for AGR Renewables – for a 97-hectare solar farm has been approved. This is the third solar farm Axis has secured consent for, on their behalf over the last three years. The Bicker Fen solar farm, which will lie across the boundary of Boston Borough Council and South Holland District Council, just west of Bicker Bar, will have the capacity to power more than 18,000 UK homes at peak operation.
The site will be in use for 40 years, after which it will be decommissioned and restored to its previous land use. The development plans included a grid connection cable to the National Grid’s Bicker Fen Substation, situated to the north and west of the site, and significant landscape and ecological enhancements.
A key consideration in the project location is the Bicker Fen substation, which is one of the few substations across the country with sufficient existing capacity to accept new generation now without significant upgrades. This solar farm would be built and be generating renewable energy onto the grid in June 2025 – without the need for significant and disruptive grid upgrades.
The project would provide significant biodiversity net gains, including a 20 acres area set aside and managed for ground nesting birds and other fauna.
Axis project lead, Director Phil Roden, said, “It is fantastic this energy sector project is going ahead. It will support the government’s plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the National Grid’s aims for a net-zero electricity system by 2030.
As Europe struggles in these record-breaking heat waves, we are reminded we must do everything we can – from an individual to an industry perspective – to reduce carbon emissions and manage the climate crisis.”
Luke Rogers, the lead project developer at AGR said, “I have been working closely with the Axis team for the last three years during the development of a portfolio of solar and BESS projects. I have always enjoyed working with the Axis team and found their professional, yet personal, approach to be effective in building a strong working relationship which has yielded many successful planning outcomes for AGR.
Axis takes a pragmatic approach to planning challenges and their advice always considers the practical needs of the developer as well as the planning requirements. We look forward to continuing to work with Axis on more renewable energy projects in the future”.
