Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Solar Farms: Food Security

Thursday 13 November 2025 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial focus is on ensuring solar farms do not occupy prime agricultural land, with a target of using only 0 4% of land by 2030.
  • The national planning policy framework prioritizes lower-quality land and rooftops for solar farm developments.
  • Government asserts that solar developments will not jeopardize food security, claiming it will provide farmers with additional income.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Concerns raised about the Droves and High Grove solar farms covering 7,000 acres in North West Norfolk. The questioner points out that these farms play a vital role in food security for his constituents.

Question

I am concerned about the potential impact of solar farms on our food security. My constituents are worried about the Droves and High Grove solar farms which will cover 7,000 acres. Why is the Government focusing on putting solar farms on Norfolk’s agricultural land rather than brownfield sites or rooftops?

Answer from The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs (Dame Angela Eagle)

Only 0.1% of land is currently used for solar farms, a figure that will increase to 0.4% by 2030 according to the clean power commitment. Our planning framework ensures that solar farms do not go on prime agricultural land and prioritises lower-quality land and rooftops for such developments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address why Norfolk’s agricultural land is being prioritised specifically over brownfield sites or rooftop locations, focusing instead on the overall percentage of land usage.

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Q2 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The shadow Minister asserts that the Government’s policies are harming food production, including excessive solar development plans. He is concerned about prime agricultural land being used for solar farms instead of brownfield sites or rooftops.

Question

Food security is national security, and we are in a farming emergency due to this Labour government’s policies. These include the heartless family farm tax and closure of support schemes. The excessive solar development plans risk losing prime food-producing land. When will the Government stop this assault on green belt areas and start putting solar farms in the right places like brownfield sites?

Answer from The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs (Dame Angela Eagle)

It is not true that all agricultural land will be covered in solar farms; it will cover 0.4% by 2030, providing farmers with additional income. The national planning policy framework prioritises lower-quality land for such developments. We are also supporting rooftop solar power installations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister avoided the specific issue of green belt areas being used for solar farms and did not provide a timeline or commitment to change policies in this regard.

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