The Proposals
Find out more about Qualitas Energy’s proposals for a new solar farm, located to the east of East Butterwick and west of Messingham.
Why this location is suitable for solar energy generation
The proposed site, on land off Butterwick Road, West Common North Road and Sand Lane, Messingham, North Lincolnshire DN17 3PR, has been identified to be used for a solar farm because:
There are no designated heritage assets on or immediately adjoining the site.
The site lies outside of the green belt, country parks, national parks, and any classified national or local landscape designation.
The site is not covered by any international, national or local conservation or ecological designations.
The site can benefit from the restoration of wildlife habitats lost due to intensive farming practices over many years.
The site has good access from the highway network.
The site benefits from flood defences, and the introduction of solar panels would not lead to increased flood risk.
There are existing hedgerows that would help screen the solar panels, and which could be extended and reinforced in places.
A 132 kV overhead line passes over the site, which would connect the solar farm to the electricity grid via an onsite substation compound, avoiding significant cable route construction on local roads and the need for new overhead lines.
River Trent Solar Farm would be a temporary development, with a total operational period of 40 years. After this, we would fully decommission and restore the land, which would revert to its previous use.
Site location plan
Site location plan (click on the image to enlarge)
Our emerging plans
We have prepared a proposed Indicative Site Layout and Opportunities Plan, which can be viewed below. This sets out our high-level proposals for the site at this point in time. The design may change following public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
The areas which would be used for wildlife enhancement would be developed in more detail as the design progresses but are likely to include areas within and around the solar panels, as well as potentially some parts of the site where no panels would be located.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request
In October, we submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Request to North Lincolnshire Council.
This marks an early step in the planning process, which enables us to establish the environmental assessments that will need to be submitted with the planning application. We will be undertaking environmental surveys and assessments and consulting with the public and key stakeholders in order to prepare more detailed project proposals.
The project will include the following components:
Solar panels and frames
Inverters and transformers
Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and customer substation compound
Underground cabling
Internal access tracks
Highway access
Fencing and CCTV
Surface water drainage provisions
Landscape and biodiversity enhancements
Temporary construction compounds
Public consultation
We are looking forward to hearing the views of local people on our plans at our public exhibition - which will take place at Messingham Community Hub on Monday 1st December from 3pm – 7pm.
To view the boards that will go on display click the button below.
Key facts
If approved, the proposed solar farm would have an estimated export capacity of 50 Megawatts (MW) AC of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 14,500 homes¹. This would save approximately 10,860 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year² – the equivalent of removing 7,584 petrol cars from the road³.
The project would also support the local and national transition to a sustainable and energy secure future, whilst delivering a net benefit for biodiversity.
Qualitas Energy is committed to delivering long-term, local investment through a Community Benefit Fund as part of the project.
Extensive engagement with the local community is planned. This will centre on a public exhibition taking place on Monday 1 December at Messingham Community Hub from 3pm - 7.30pm and an interactive webinar hosted on Wednesday 3 December from 6.30pm – 7.30pm.
- Year one output has been calculated by multiplying the proposed development’s generation capacity (50 MW) by the total hours in a year (8,766, accounting for leap years), then applying a capacity factor for solar PV schemes operating in the UK on an unchanged configuration basis (10.9%, average of 2012–2024 data) (DESNZ, 2025). Reference data: DUKES 6.3 Excel file. Year one output was then divided by 3,301 kWh (annual electricity consumption for an average UK household) (DESNZ, 2024). Further details: Subnational electricity and gas consumption report, providing an estimated number of homes powered per annum.
- This saving is calculated by multiplying estimated total output in year 1 (47,866 MWh) by the UK’s current grid average factor, inclusive of Well to tank (WTT), and WTT transmission and distribution (DESNZ 2025).
- Based on an average emission of 143.5 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (the average for petrol cars registered in 2024 see here, reference VEH0156) and average annual car mileage of 6,200 miles or 9,978 kilometres (the average mileage for petrol cars in 2024 see here, reference NTS0901).
Key considerations
Our landscape-led layout is progressing to respond to key considerations including views, ecology, flood risk and agricultural land quality. The project would involve filling in gaps in existing hedgerows along the site boundaries in order to provide visual screening. New planting will also be proposed in some locations to provide additional visual screening.
The design life of the Proposed Development is expected to be up to 40 years. After this time the site would be returned to its previous use.
Appropriate construction traffic management and mitigation measures will be set out and secured within a Construction Traffic Management Plan, which will be prepared to accompany the planning application. The construction period is likely to last 15-18 months. During the operation phase of the proposed development, on-site activities would only involve maintenance activities, requiring 1-2 visits per month. As a result, once the solar farm is operational, the effect on the local road network would be minimal.
The existing Public Right of Way (footpath) runs along the northern edge of part of the site would be retained in its current position.The cable route is proposed to cross this once and over a very short distance. Any disruption to the footpath would be for a short duration and agreed with North Lincolnshire Council.
Providing benefits for nature
The UK, like most other countries worldwide, is experiencing an ecological emergency that has led to a significant loss of biodiversity. Evidence from the last 50 years shows that on land and in freshwater, significant and ongoing changes in the way we manage our land for agriculture, and the effects of climate change, are having the biggest impact on our wildlife.
Areas within River Trent Solar Farm will be set aside and actively managed for nature, so that local biodiversity not only recovers but improves. Enhancements are being investigated but at this stage we are considering providing species-rich grassland with wildflowers to support pollinators, planting new hedgerows, and improving the density and species diversity of existing hedgerows. We would deliver a net gain for biodiversity; our projects typically achieve well above the legally required minimum 10%. Qualified ecologists will survey current habitats and prepare a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan to guide how the site is managed during its operation. An outline Construction Environmental Management Plan will also ensure construction activities are carried out sensitively.
Planning timeline
Following our public consultation, we will review all feedback and use this to inform our plans wherever possible. A planning application will be submitted to North Lincolnshire Council for its consideration. We anticipate submitting this application in March 2026.
FAQs
What would the visual impact of the scheme be?
We are still at an early stage in developing the planning application, but the proposed layout would be landscape led, and the solar farm designed to be as low-impact and well-designed as possible.
We have contacted the nearest neighbours to the site and are looking to carefully manage visual effects through site layout, landscaping and planting.
The project would involve filling in gaps in existing hedgerows along the site boundaries in order to provide visual screening. New planting will be proposed in some locations to provide additional visual screening.
A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will be submitted as part of the future planning application.
Do solar panels create glint and glare? What about the impact on North Moor Aero Club (a private airfield located to the immediate east of the northern parts of the site)?
Solar panels are less reflective than many common building features – such as windows, and they are designed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
The potential for glint and glare effects will be assessed, and the solar farm will be designed to reduce any risk of this accordingly.
Typically, this is achieved through planting or changing the angle of the solar panel placement. We are consulting with the North Moor Aero Club, and the planning application will be accompanied by a glint and glare report.
How will construction traffic be managed?
The access for River Trent Solar Farm is currently being investigated in more detail. The construction route would be from the M180, A1077 (M), A18, Scotter Road South. From there, it is anticipated that access(es) would be made to / from Butterwick Road for the solar areas, and from West Common North Road for the substation area.
A Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) will be provided alongside the planning application, outlining the access route to the site along with measures to ensure construction can be carried out safely. This includes setting designated delivery times to reduce congestion during peak hours and avoiding particularly busy routes or times of day.
We are committed to working with the local community to minimise inconvenience, including through consultation on delivery routes and timings. Once the site is operational, site traffic would be reduced to roughly 1-2 vans per month.
What type of application is being prepared?
A planning application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) is being prepared. This means the application will be made to North Lincolnshire Council, rather than to the UK Government.
When will further detail be made available?
Following the consultation we are holding in November – December 2025, we will refine our plans and respond to the feedback we receive, wherever possible. We aim to submit a planning application to North Lincolnshire Council in March 2026. The council will then conduct a formal consultation where neighbours and community stakeholders will have a chance to view the detailed plans and give their views to the council before the application is decided.
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