The UK government has approved the development of One Earth Solar Farm, which is set to become the second largest solar farm in the country and is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 200,000 homes each year, according to the developer. The project's output is equivalent to around half of all homes in Lincolnshire.

The approval, announced on July 8, comes just one week after the government authorized the Peartree Hill Solar Farm and Dean Moor Solar Farm, further advancing its strategy to accelerate renewable energy deployment.

With this decision, the government has now approved 30 nationally significant clean energy projects since July 2024, representing enough generating capacity to power the equivalent of more than 19 million homes. It is also the 42nd nationally significant infrastructure project approved during the current Parliament.

The government said the project forms part of its strategy to strengthen the UK's energy security by increasing domestic electricity generation and reducing exposure to volatility in international fossil fuel markets.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that "the only way to have energy security is if we take a pro-growth approach to building more clean energy in Britain," adding that this has been the government's approach over the past two years.

The approval also coincides with new planning reforms that will remove mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects. According to the government, the changes will reduce planning timelines by up to 12 months and could save the industry £1 billion during the current Parliament.

The government also highlighted that 2025 was the strongest year on record for solar deployment in the UK, with 269,000 solar installations completed, according to official figures published last month.

Following development consent, the project developer can move forward with the next stage of the scheme, including meeting the planning conditions attached to the approval before construction begins. The government said the decision followed a detailed planning process that assessed impacts on local communities, land use and the environment.