Legal dispute
This project aims to raise funds to resolve a claim, or other type of dispute.
Help us STOP solar on prime Lincolnshire farmland
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Help them get started
Your support makes a difference
Aim: Our community is fighting a solar farm application and desperately needs your help to protect Lincolnshire's wildlife, heritage and farmland
Who We Are
The Hatton Action Group is a local community organisation which was formed to oppose the development of an industrial-scale solar farm in the Lincolnshire countryside. We are comprised of local residents, and supporters from the surrounding villages.
What We Believe
We all understand and support the need for sustainable, green energy. However, in increasingly uncertain times, we also need to be able to live up to Lincolnshire being "the bread-basket of the nation"
And we don't have to make a choice between either Green energy or food security. We can have both.
We simply need to ensure that solar is installed on domestic new-build rooftops, warehouse roofs and on the hundreds of available "brownfield sites" across the UK such as abandoned airfields, quarries and industrial parks.
We therefore believe that the loss of Lincolnshire fertile countryside (for the next 40 years) amidst a growing need for UK food security cannot be the answer.
What We’re Fighting
In 2022, PUSH Energy applied to build a 49.9MW industrial-scale solar farm and a 132kV substation on 178 acres of productive farmland near Hatton, Lincolnshire - 80% of which is classed as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land. This site borders the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB and lies near protected heritage assets, including a Grade II listed farmhouse. The development would
• Remove 180 acres of vital farmland from food production
• Harm local heritage (including a Grade II Listed farmstead that would be within just a few metres of the proposed solar farm development).
• Impact on the ability of wildlife to roam due to the erection of 6.6km of 2m high security fencing around the perimeter of the site adjacent to Sotby Woods
• Impact nearby communities with visual blight and construction disruption
• Set a dangerous precedent for unchecked industrialisation of rural areas
Although the development was approved by East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) in March 2023, the community came together and launched a Judicial Review, which concluded that this planning approval was unlawful due to failure to properly consider the loss of BMV land. That decision was therefore quashed.
At the subsequent planning meeting in October we were therefore delighted when the ELDC Planning Committee, having properly considered the impact that this development would have, voted 7 votes to 1 to REJECT the application.
Unfortunately PUSH Energy has now appealed this decision, and have triggered a Public Inquiry which will take place in September 2025.
This development will directly affect the parishes residents and livelihoods of the parties we represent. We are therefore absolutely determined to continue our fight to stop this precedent-setting industrialisation of our countryside and protect vital farmland, heritage, and rural communities—for today and for future generations.
In order to ensure that we can provide evidence and detail that will not be covered by East Lindsey District Council, The Hatton Action Group has therefore requested, and been granted, Rule 6 Party status to the Inquiry, with full legal standing. This will allow us to :-
• Submit our own (substantial) evidence
• Cross-examine the developer’s witnesses
• Present expert testimony
As you might expect, legal representation to achieve this comes at a cost, HOWEVER, we have been given every reason to believe that we have an extremely strong case to ensure that this Appeal is once again refused.
We are therefore seeking to raise an estimated £50,000–£60,000 to cover legal representation, planning consultants, environmental experts, and supporting materials.
Whilst this is no doubt a significant sum, we have every confidence that the strength of wider community support to our cause, the strength of people's feeling against this headlong rush to Net Zero and the public backlash that we have seen against use of Lincolnshire as a "dumping ground" for these ill-conceived projects, will help us succeed.
So, please, please , help us again by making a donation today and by sharing our story far and wide. Together we know that we can stop this development blighting our beautiful Lincolnshire countryside for generations to come.
THANK YOU
The Hatton Action Group
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 18th August 2025 at 3:00pm