The controversial Mallard Pass Solar Farm project has completed its planning application examination process.

The project, which is planned for Rutland and Lincolnshire and centres around the village of Essendine, is unprecedented in scale, covering a site of over 2,000 acres.

It is 10 times bigger than the largest existing solar plant in the UK and is proposed in a rural, rather than an industrial setting with 530,000 panels, each 3.3m high, surrounded by miles of 2m fencing, all with CCTV, and across 52 separate field plots.

After six months of hearings, the examination process completed on November 16.

David Cliff, chief examiner, will now report the findings of the examination board to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

From the board’s conclusions a decision as to whether the project goes ahead will be made no later than 16 February 2024.

The Mallard Pass Solar Farm development by Windel Energy and Canadian Solar would cover more than 2,000 acres of farmland across the Rutland and Stamford border area and would generate enough power for 92,000 homes.

Rutland's MP launched a petition to block the 2,175-acre solar farm from being built across Rutland and Stamford, as well as travelling across Rutland and Stamford demonstrating the height of the 3.3m solar panels to garner more support.