Representatives of Britain’s solar energy industry have attacked proposals that could see panel installations blocked on swathes of England’s farmland.
Defra secretary Ranil Jayawardena is reportedly considering the move amid concerns over food security, to ensure that productive farmland is not developed.
Although not yet confirmed by Defra, the minister has mooted extending the types of land covered by the term Best and Most Versatile (BMV).
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At present, this term includes all land classified Grade 1 to 3a. But if reports of Mr Jayawardena’s proposals are proved accurate, the BMV tag would be extended to Grade 3b land.
This is defined as moderate quality land capable of producing moderate cereal yields and lower yields of crops such as rape, potatoes or sugar beet.
Including Grade 3b land could mean that more than half of the total farmland area would then be classified as BMV. This would subject solar farm projects to more stringent planning reviews.
False and baseless
According to British Solar Energy UK this would tilt planning permission against solar panel farm construction in England.
In a strongly worded statement the organisation said the government idea was in response to “false and baseless claims that solar farms threatened the UK’s food security”.
It argued that solar farms defended food supply because they addressed climate change which was identified by Defra as the biggest threat to food security.
A spokesman for BSE-UK added that solar farms helped keep farmers in business, by providing them with a stable source of income in uncertain economic times.
And he said that even if five times as many solar farms were built, they would occupy less than 0.3% of UK land – less than half the amount occupied by golf courses.
Anti-growth coalition
Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett said: “The UK solar sector is alarmed by attempts to put major planning rules in the way of cheap, homegrown energy.
“Solar power is the answer to so many needs and policy demands: it will cut energy bills, deliver energy security, boost growth and help rural economies.”
Mr Hewett also referred to a speech by prime minister Liz Truss last week which named green groups as part of an “anti-growth coalition”.
“Ranil Jayawardena’s opposition to solar farms must surely make him part of the anti-growth coalition,” he suggested.
Farmers Weekly is awaiting clarification from Defra on the issue. But if it were to go ahead the proposals would not be within Defra’s powers alone.
To become government policy, approval would be required by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
According to an article in the Guardian newspaper, it is understood that BEIS ministers would oppose the move, because they wish to demonstrate they are deregulating all forms of energy production including oil, gas, fracking and renewables.
