Labour denies energy plans will hit productive farmland
© Tim Scrivener Labour has denied claims that its plans to triple solar capacity to 50GW by 2030 will take productive farmland out of action.
The expansion would mean the equivalent of 16,1875ha being covered in solar panels, but the party insisted no farmer would be forced to use land for solar.
Solar energy has been a contentious topic for tenant farmers, in particular, with some high-profile cases of developers applying for projects on tenanted land.
See also: Experts outline on-farm renewable energy options
In Yorkshire, a plan from solar developer Harmony Energy to build a £30m solar farm on 52ha of prime agricultural land farmed by tenants Robert and Emma Sturdy was recently rejected by North Yorkshire Council.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Labour will switch on Great British Energy, a new publicly owned energy company that will bring together public and private investment to harness clean, home-grown British power: wind, wave, solar and nuclear. That means cheaper bills for our farmers, lowering the costs of fertiliser and animal feed.
“This represents an opportunity for those who want to diversify their income streams and reap the benefits of clean power, by enabling them to build renewable energy such as solar and plug existing projects into the National Grid faster.
“But we don’t want to see swathes of productive farmland taken out of action. Labour will introduce a land-use framework in England to ensure the correct balance between food and energy production.”
Under the Labour plans, all solar projects will be subject to the planning process and the consent of the landowner.
The party also expects communities to benefit from the clean energy they host through local power plans.