Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Large-scale Solar Projects: Community Engagement

Tuesday 10 February 2026 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps include consulting on mandatory community benefits for large-scale solar projects.
  • The Government published the local power plan to ensure communities can own energy infrastructure and benefit from it.
  • The Minister disagrees with the notion that solar projects threaten food security, citing that only 0.4% of UK land would be occupied by solar in ambitious deployment scenarios.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Community Security Energy
Context

The Southill Solar scheme effectively engages with local communities, providing direct returns to residents and funding local projects. In contrast, the Botley West solar farm faces criticism for insufficient developer engagement and transparency.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure large-scale solar project developers effectively engage with local communities? Just across my constituency lies Southill Solar, which engages well with locals, pays direct returns to residents, funds projects, and won awards. However, Botley West faces criticism for insufficient developer engagement and transparency.

Answer from Michael Shanks

The Government believes in community benefits for hosting infrastructure. We have consulted on mandatory community benefits, which we will respond to soon. The local power plan ensures that communities can own energy infrastructure and benefit from it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specifically commit to meet the MP or address the Botley West concerns directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Southill Solar scheme has engaged well with the local community, paying direct returns to residents. However, Botley West faces criticism for insufficient engagement and transparency.

Question

Does the Minister agree that community benefits should be proportionate to the scale of solar development? Will he meet me to discuss better listening to rural communities so clean energy is delivered with their consent?

Answer from Michael Shanks

I have had productive meetings with the hon. Gentleman and will be happy to meet him again. We believe that communities should benefit from hosting infrastructure, and we published the local power plan to ensure these benefits flow into communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specifically commit to discuss issues related to Botley West or large-scale schemes directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Jeevun Sandher Lab Loughborough
Climate Energy
Context

A solar farm in Loughborough will power 20,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions. It is also more affordable than natural gas.

Question

Does the Minister agree that when it comes to renewable energy, Members should support projects in their constituencies? The proposed solar farm will power 20,000 homes, reduce emissions, and make bills cheaper because solar is 50% cheaper than natural gas. Will the Minister say 'Yes in my constituency'?

Answer from Michael Shanks

I warmly welcome the hon. Friend's comments about building necessary infrastructure for energy security and highlighting renewables as the cheapest power source, citing recent auctions resulting in 4.9 GW of capacity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not directly commit to supporting the proposed solar farm or similar projects

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Communities feel threatened by large-scale solar farms and worry about the impact on food security. Campaign groups like Stop Oversized Solar express concern that future deployment could cover an area equivalent to Greater London.

Question

Does the Minister appreciate how communities feel threatened by large-scale solar? The No. 1 complaint concerns the threat to food security, with developers citing a 1% land use figure while real figures suggest covering nearly 2,000 farms capable of producing 2 billion loaves of bread.

Answer from Michael Shanks

This is absurd nonsense. In ambitious deployment scenarios, only 0.4% of UK land would be occupied by solar. The Conservatives' policy would increase bills and turn away investment driving jobs.

Not addressed: Does not provide accurate figures or address food security concerns directly

How: Attack

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email