Ed Miliband has approved Britain’s biggest solar farm despite the objections of locals who compared it to Chernobyl. The Energy Secretary has ruled against the opposition of locals in Lincolnshire to wave through the development on the basis that it is “nationally significant”.

The Springwell Solar Farm is set to be the largest power-producing solar farm in the UK – according to the developer it could power over 180,000 homes a year, the equivalent of half the homes in Lincolnshire. Residents have bemoaned the impact the development will have on local farming, with the farm set to cover seven square miles of open space with solar panels, impacting 10 villages and thousands of residents.

Local Conservative councillor Rob Kendrick said: "There are no beneficiaries in terms of the people of Lincolnshire.

"The landscape will be changed. Tourism is worth £2bn to Lincolnshire and that will be impacted."

The decision marks the 25th nationally significant clean energy project approved by the government since July 2024 – enough clean energy to power the equivalent of more than 12.5 million homes.

In 2024, Labour scrapped planning rules that previously blocked the construction of new solar farms on food-producing land.

Mr Miliband also designated large solar and wind farms as “nationally significant” schemes that planners should approve by default.

Local officials have accused Mr Milliband of having “made up his mind already” and being disinterested in the fears of those affected.

Marc Williams, of the Springwell Solar Farm Action Group, told Lincolnshire Live in May last year: “The community are so concerned about this...Everyone’s against it, apart from those who will profit.

“We wouldn’t object to plans for a couple of hundred acres but this is vast. It will be an industrialised complex like Chernobyl.

“People will go for a drive and see nothing but panels.”

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: "We are driving further and faster for clean homegrown power that we control to protect the British people and bring down bills for good.

"It is crucial we learn the lessons of the conflict in the Middle East – solar is one of the cheapest forms of power available and is how we get off the rollercoaster of international fossil fuel markets and secure our own energy independence."

In response to the decision, Mr Williams said: "I'm fuming.

"It shows a complete lack of democratic accountability in this country."

He added that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had "taken no account of the local views of people and he's just ridden roughshod across the community and will basically destroy approximately 4,000 acres just in this area alone".

Matthew Boulton from EDF welcomed the government approval describing it as "an important step forward for Springwell Solar Farm".

"I would like to thank everyone who took part in the public examination process and consultations," he said.

"As the project moves forward, we remain committed to working collaboratively with local communities and partners to reduce the impacts of construction while delivering long-term benefits for the region."

The site is expected to start producing electricity from 2029.