Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Solar Farms: Impact on Local Communities

Tuesday 16 April 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The planning system considers all perspectives when balancing local impacts with national need for solar projects.
  • Developers often offer community benefit packages as part of their projects.
  • A large solar farm project in North Wiltshire is at the pre-application stage, with an expected submission to the Planning Inspectorate between January and March 2025.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Gray Con
Energy Environment
Context

The question arises from concerns about the potential negative impacts that large-scale solar farm developments may have on local communities. The issue is particularly relevant in areas where there has been a significant increase in such projects.

Question

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of solar farms on local communities. She notes that the planning system should consider all perspectives when balancing local impacts with national need, but she seeks specifics on how this assessment is conducted and what measures are taken to ensure local benefits.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

As with any new development, solar projects may impact communities. The planning system considers all perspectives when balancing local impacts with national need. It is important that local areas benefit from hosting net zero infrastructure. Many developers already offer community benefit packages.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment of the impact and measures to address these impacts were not detailed

How: Hedging Language

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Q2 James Gray Con
Energy Environment
Context

The question pertains to a specific project, the Lime Down carbuncle solar farm proposed for North Wiltshire. It highlights concerns from local residents who protested against the plan due to its scale and impact on the area.

Question

If the Minister had wanted to see the impact that a massive solar farm, such as the so-called Lime Down carbuncle in my constituency, will have on local people, he should have come to Malmesbury town hall last week, where 750 people were protesting against this appalling plan in North Wiltshire. It is going to be 2,000 acres of panels, 3 million panels, 5,000 acres blighted, and 30 miles to the nearest connection down at Melksham. It is an absolutely disgraceful proposal. It comes at a time when Wiltshire has eight out of 10 of the largest solar farms. We already have enough, vastly exceeding our county target for solar production. Will the Minister consider the cumulative effect of all these solar farms? Will he ask the National Infrastructure Commission to take into account the cumulative effect of solar farms when considering such applications?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

I very much thank my hon. Friend for that question. He raises a very interesting topic, and one that we are listening to. The project he speaks to is at the pre-application stage. An application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate between January and March 2025. Due to my quasi-judicial role in determining applications for development consent, it is not appropriate to comment on any specific matters. I am aware that some of his constituents are coming to Parliament this Thursday and I will be happy to meet them to discuss their concerns.

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to considering cumulative effects or instructing the National Infrastructure Commission to do so

How: Refusing To Comment On Specific Matters, Changing Subject To Meeting Constituents

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