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Ground-mounted Solar Panels: Alternatives
14 April 2026
Lead MP
Lincoln Jopp
Spelthorne
Con
Responding Minister
Michael Shanks
Tags
ClimateAgriculture & Rural AffairsLocal Government
Word Count: 9381
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Lincoln Jopp raised concerns about ground-mounted solar panels: alternatives in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Jopp asks the government to look at floating solar in a [K more strategic way and to consider relaxing permitted development rights to [2D [K to include third-party use of electricity, thus improving the business case [4D [K case for such projects. He also calls for a re-evaluation of their potentia [8D [K potential based on international examples.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Member of Parliament for Spelthorne is concerned [9D [K concerned about the impact of large land-based solar farms on agricultural [K land, which he views as a zero-sum game between food security and energy se [2D [K security. He also highlights the potential benefits of floating solar panel [5D [K panels over ground-mounted systems, citing an example from 2016 where a tec [3D [K technology demonstrator produced 6.3 MW of power. Additionally, Jopp points [6D [K points out that floating solar can reduce evaporation by 70%, making it twi [3D [K twice as efficient and beneficial for water security.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Some solar farm proposals are on a large scale, with [4D [K with 9,340 acres open to planning in the constituency of Sleaford and North [5D [K North Hykeham, equivalent to 91% of the area of Rutherglen. The hon. Member is concerned that the use of ground- [7D [K ground-mounted solar panels falls on prime agricultural land rather than le [2D [K less productive areas.
Edward Morello
Lib Dem
West Dorset
According to Edward Morello, at least 2% of the UK i [1D [K is covered in golf courses which are ecological wastelands. He asks whether [7D [K whether these lands could be used for solar panels instead.
George Freeman
Con
Mid Norfolk
The Member supports space solar power and highlights [10D [K highlights the vulnerability of UK food security due to global supply chain [5D [K chains. He expresses a keen interest in seeing solar panels on reservoirs, [K motorways, council buildings, but not on good farmland. The grid connection investment in Norfolk is leading [7D [K leading to the release of up to 20,000 acres for solar applications, but th [2D [K this could distort land use arguments.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
I congratulate the hon. Member on bringing forward a [1D [K a debate and highlights that there are roughly 600,000 acres of unused, sou [3D [K south-facing industrial rooftops in the United Kingdom that could be utilis [6D [K utilised before we industrialise the countryside.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
My hon. Friend makes a characteristically brilliant [K speech and suggests space-based solar power as an alternative to ground-mou [10D [K ground-mounted panels, noting that this would not take up precious agricult [8D [K agricultural land.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Robbie Moore reads the land use framework and argues [6D [K argues that ground-mounted solar installations on agricultural land will de [2D [K degrade soil health, despite the government's focus on food security.
Samantha Niblett
Lab
South Derbyshire
The Member highlights the challenges of grid connect [7D [K connections and the need for speed in transitioning to renewables. She note [4D [K notes that while she is passionate about moving to renewables, it is not st [2D [K straightforward due to existing infrastructure constraints. Tenant farmers are losing their farms when there is [K a change in land use for solar farms, as they can no longer farm the land a [1D [K and it becomes unusable for agricultural purposes.
Sarah Bool
Con
South Northamptonshire
Concerned about the Green Hill solar farm proposal i [1D [K in her constituency, which will cover 1,200 hectares and use up to 65% of b [1D [K best and most versatile land. Cited concerns over food security, visual imp [3D [K impact on heritage areas, and potential fire hazards from battery storage s [1D [K systems. Argued for alternatives like floating solar and rooftop installati [10D [K installations.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Rooftop solar panels on appropriate buildings in Gla [3D [K Glastonbury and Somerton could meet net zero targets while prioritising fer [3D [K fertile land for food production, and incentives should be expanded for far [3D [K farmers to install such panels.
Government Response
Michael Shanks
Government Response
Congratulated the hon. and gallant Member for Spelt [5D [K Spelthorne on securing the debate, highlighted the importance of tackling c [1D [K climate change, addressed disingenuous trading of statistics on land use, d [1D [K discussed strategic planning for land use, supported floating solar technol [7D [K technology as a promising alternative to ground-mounted panels, acknowledge [11D [K acknowledged the need for more rooftop solar deployment despite complexitie [11D [K complexities, emphasized the importance of ground-mounted solar in meeting [K electricity demand, and stressed community ownership and benefits from rene [4D [K renewable infrastructure.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.