East Park Energy North Bedfordshire 2026-01-27

Opened the debate

Madam Deputy Speaker, may I start by thanking you and, through you, Mr Speaker for permitting me to speak on this important constituency matter. For the benefit of those who may be not familiar with the process, the Minister will probably be very limited in what he can say specifically about the topic I am raising today. The topic is a proposal by East Park Energy for a large-scale, ground-mounted solar plant and battery energy storage system spanning North Bedfordshire and also the constituency of Huntingdon. This proposal is currently under consideration as part of the nationally significant infrastructure project process. East Park Energy spans 1,900 acres of land—to give some perspective, that is larger than Gatwick airport—on what is currently open countryside. It engulfs the rural parishes of Pertenhall and Swineshead, Bolnhurst, Keysoe, Little Staughton, Staploe and Dean and Shelton in my constituency, as well as the parishes of Hail Weston and Great Staughton in the constituency of Huntingdon. Some 74% of the land is classified as best and most versatile agricultural land, and East Park is one of six nationally significant infrastructure projects impacting North Bedfordshire. I have called this debate to discuss with the Minister the impact that East Park Energy could have on North Bedfordshire’s local residents and on its landscape and rural character, and to raise with him points specific to the proposal that, in my opinion, warrant serious consideration for its rejection.

Government Response

I thank the hon. Member for North Bedfordshire (Richard Fuller) for bringing this issue to our attention today. East Park Energy’s proposal is currently under consideration through the nationally significant infrastructure project process. The Government recognise the importance of striking a balance between renewable energy generation and protecting best agricultural land. We have been clear that we will not compromise on food security or damage the countryside, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that this proposal will be thoroughly scrutinised. Concerns about the use of best and most versatile land are being carefully considered in the planning process to ensure that no detrimental impact is made on our nation’s ability to produce high-quality food. Additionally, we have been working closely with local authorities to assess the cumulative impacts of multiple nationally significant infrastructure projects in North Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, including the Black Cat roundabout, East West Rail, Universal Studios, Luton Airport expansion, and new housing settlements such as Tempsford. We are committed to ensuring that any development respects the environment and meets the needs of local communities. The Government will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders throughout the process to ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved for North Bedfordshire. The Minister acknowledges the concerns raised about solar farm development in Bedfordshire, highlighting the Government's commitment to achieving significant renewable energy targets by 2030. He emphasises that solar projects must be rolled out sensitively and that communities should benefit from hosting infrastructure. The Minister stresses that local community feedback is crucial and is taken seriously during decision-making processes. He mentions that planning regulations require a thorough assessment of visual amenity, protected landscapes, land use, food production, safety, and traffic conditions. The Government aims to tackle cumulative impacts through strategic holistic planning and consultations on national land use strategies. We are now strategically planning the energy system, building infrastructure next to where it is needed most to reduce community impact and take account of cumulative effects. We recognise that previous efforts lacked strategic planning, leading to high grid infrastructure costs. The planning policy encourages the use of brownfield or previously developed land for solar projects, but acknowledges that this may not always be possible due to practical constraints. Even in ambitious deployment scenarios, only 0.4% of UK land would be devoted to solar by 2030. While I cannot comment on specific sites without further information, we are committed to using lower-quality land where feasible and have a determination to address community concerns through strategic planning. We will write to the hon. Member with additional responses on other points raised. The Government is not complacent about the impact of these projects on communities, and I commit to doing more to ensure that communities feel engaged in the process. Despite issues, the planning system rigorously considers every application for solar power projects, ensuring they are taken seriously by communities.