Low Carbon, a UK-based renewable energy company, has received a development consent order (DCO) for the Beacon Fen Energy Park, a 400MW solar and 600MW battery storage project to be built in Lincolnshire.
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero granted the DCO following the conclusion of the statutory examination process.
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The project lies east of Sleaford and north of Heckington, with grid connection planned via the Bicker Fen substation.
The Beacon Fen Energy Park will include solar photovoltaic panels, single-stacked battery energy storage system units, security perimeter fencing, hedgerow improvements, ecological enhancements and associated cable connections at up to 400kV, as well as ancillary works.
Once operational, the facility is forecast to generate enough electricity to power around 130,000 homes annually and help avoid approximately 72,000t of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
The DCO application was submitted by the Beacon Fen Energy Park to the Planning Inspectorate on 8 April 2025, with acceptance for examination on 1 May 2025.
Examination proceedings, which began in September 2025, included input from the public, statutory consultees and other interested parties.
Recommendations were made to the secretary of state on 22 May 2026, and the consent was subsequently granted, making the Beacon Fen Energy Park the first large-scale solar project approved under the current Secretary of State, Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Baroness Curran made the decision under legal authority on behalf of the Energy Secretary.
The Planning Inspectorate noted that this project was the 112th out of 180 energy applications examined to date and was processed within the statutory timescale required by the Planning Act 2008.
Approval of the Beacon Fen Energy Park is the latest planning milestone in Low Carbon’s UK project portfolio and is intended to contribute to the government’s renewable energy and climate targets.
UK development managing director Mike Rutgers said: “Securing development consent for Beacon Fen Energy Park is a landmark moment for Low Carbon.
“As one of the first major energy infrastructure decisions taken under the new secretary of state, the approval sends a clear signal about the importance of accelerating homegrown, clean energy that can play a key role in strengthening energy security and supporting economic growth.”
