Solar Farms 2025-05-15

Sir John Hayes highlights the importance of agricultural land for food production, arguing that compromising this land with solar farms poses a significant risk to food security in the UK.

Rachel Gilmour agrees on avoiding agricultural land use but suggests rooftop installations on new buildings as an alternative. She supports local efforts to prevent solar panels from being installed over farmland.

Sir Gavin Williamson raises concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple solar projects on communities in his constituency. He highlights a village that will be almost entirely surrounded by solar panels.

Robbie Moore discusses the long-term impacts on soil quality after a solar farm's term ends, suggesting that land might not return to its original productive state. He also questions whether soil tests conducted by developers should be independently verified.

Bradley Thomas agrees with the concerns about solar farms becoming a new cash crop at the expense of food production, given changes in agricultural property relief and other pressures on farmers. He highlights the risk of increased reliance on imports.

Russell questions whether solar panels would significantly affect pilot training based on their existing presence in other countries like Spain.

Mayer supports the Government's plan to triple solar capacity, highlighting a successful solar farm that retains agricultural use. She emphasises biodiversity benefits from wildflower meadows and under-solar panel shelter for ground-nesting birds.

Barclay criticises the Labour government's failure to prioritise food security as national security. He points out the inconsistency between manifesto pledges and actual policy implementation, especially regarding solar farm development on prime agricultural land.

Supports the government's clean energy mission but raises concerns about solar farms in his constituency. Proposes nuclear energy generation at Dungeness and supports solar developments but argues for a fair share and limitations to protect rural character.

Argues against the concentration of solar farms in certain areas, particularly Gainsborough. Calls for a fair distribution of solar farms across the country rather than concentrating them in one area. Criticises bypassing local democracy.

Ms Coombes supports renewable energy from solar, wind, and wave power, arguing that these are free sources compared to relying on foreign oil and gas. She challenges the idea that solar energy is a threat to the countryside, citing research showing solar farms contain more bird species than arable land. She also highlights opportunities for rooftop installations in industrial areas like the Black Country.

The Member criticises the inefficiency of solar power generation in the UK due to lack of sunlight, arguing that it sacrifices agricultural land with minimal benefits. He calls for joined-up thinking between energy and food policy and suggests relying on North Sea gas and oil as a bridge before small nuclear reactors.

Mr Jermy acknowledges the need for renewable energy but emphasises pragmatic approaches considering local communities. He raises concerns about food security due to solar farms being placed on high-quality agricultural land rather than lower quality land, advocating for protection of grade 2 and above land prioritising it for food production.

The right hon. Member for Goole and Pocklington criticised the decision to approve a solar farm in his constituency, expressing anger over the lack of proper consultation with constituents and the detrimental impact on local communities. He cited a 3,150-acre solar farm approved without adequate consideration for residents' concerns.

The hon. Member for Coventry South questioned the right hon. Gentleman's criticism of the Government's failure to implement proper national strategies and highlighted that the issue was more complex than presented by opponents.

The hon. Member for North Northumberland supported ambitious targets for clean energy but stressed the importance of local support, farmer-friendly approaches, and effective solar farm development to ensure community benefits and lower bills.

The hon. Member for Ynys Môn highlighted the conflict between clean energy initiatives and local agricultural viability, citing proposed large-scale solar farms that would cover significant portions of high-quality agricultural land on her island.

Raises concerns about the Whitestone proposal affecting four villages and tenant farmers' rights. Urges developer to be more considerate towards residents.

Critiques government's 'net zero at all costs' agenda as harmful to economy and countryside. Advocates for greater regard of local people’s views in major infrastructure projects.

Supports solar energy as a critical part of the green transition, citing investment by Great British Energy and new building standards encouraging solar panel installation. Emphasises need for supply chain resilience free from forced labour.

Supports Russell's stance on excluding slave labour from the supply chain of solar panels. Acknowledges British farmers' role in solar generation capacity.

Critiques large-scale solar farms as inappropriate, citing environmental and economic harm. Raises concerns about the safety risks of battery storage systems associated with these projects.

Questions Tice on the dangers posed by battery energy storage plants used in conjunction with solar farms.

Mr. Edward Morello, a former renewable energy finance worker before entering Parliament, emphasised the need for strategic land use frameworks that balance solar farm development with agricultural and environmental concerns. He argued that renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels and essential for achieving net-zero emissions. However, he also stressed the importance of protecting high-quality agricultural land from industrialisation and ensuring community benefits from solar projects.

Mr. Greg Smith supported the expansion of renewable energy but raised questions about the adequacy of current measures to protect agriculture and the environment. He emphasised the need for a strategic land use framework that prioritises lower-grade land for solar farms, avoids high-quality agricultural land where possible, and encourages dual-use solutions.

Ms. Joy Morrissey acknowledged the passionate concern of rural communities over proposed large-scale solar farm developments that threaten their way of life. She emphasised the lack of consultation with local communities and highlighted previous successful efforts to limit solar farm expansion in sensitive areas, which she believes have been undermined by recent policy changes.

My constituency has 2,000 acres of raised reservoirs and there are 402 Members in the House from England alone who have raised reservoirs in their constituencies. Does the shadow Minister agree that if the forthcoming Government solar road map does not contain a substantial amount on floating solar on raised reservoirs, then we will have missed a massive opportunity?

I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent point and suggest he applies to the Backbench Business Committee for a debate on floating solar. Many people are affected by this issue; Members on the Labour Benches have been bold in standing up for their constituents, despite the difficulties involved. We need to continue highlighting the plight of rural communities affected by issues such as agricultural self-sufficiency and food security.

Does the shadow Minister agree that if we continue to permit applications for solar farms in the countryside, including those at Weatheroak and Hunnington in my constituency, we erode our agricultural self-sufficiency? It is important not to betray rural communities any further.

We need to address three key areas of concern: the loss of high-quality agricultural land, clustering of development applications linked to solar farms, and importance of community consent. There are shocking statistics on land consumption by solar farms in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, which threaten food security.

Residents in 14 villages in my patch will be living in the middle of a power station without proper planning consultation or compensation for rural communities. There is no offer of lower energy bills or discounts on offsetting costs, leaving local communities to sacrifice green spaces and livelihoods.

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend about the need for proper planning consultation and compensation. We are losing farmland and farmers in a reckless ideological pursuit of net zero, threatening food security. Developers see agricultural land as an easy pathway to solar farm development.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham on securing this debate. Solar currently generates 30% of our electricity, more than any other technology. It plays a critical role in energy security and climate leadership by moving away from volatile fossil fuels that set constituents’ bills.

The Minister argues that solar power is crucial for energy security and climate change mitigation. He mentions the need to balance different technologies across various regions while ensuring local communities are consulted through a rigorous planning system. The minister also highlights public support for solar projects and notes that 88% of people surveyed agree with it.

Dr Johnson contends that the debate is not about aesthetic concerns or nimbyism but focuses on the vast scale and impact of solar farms. She emphasises that good-quality farmland should be prioritised for agricultural use, opposing government policies allowing such land to be converted into solar installations.

The hon. Member asks about the concerns of his constituents regarding large-scale wind farms, pylons, and solar farms in Scotland. He seeks assurance from the Minister on how these developments will be managed to ensure community support.

The hon. Member raises concerns about the impact of solar farms on agricultural land, emphasising the need for a balanced approach that prioritises high-quality farmland for food production over energy installations.