Following a number of proposals for large scale solar farms in my constituency, I secured a Westminster Hall Debate on the topic in Parliament. This gave me the opportunity to voice many of the views my constituents have raised with me and receive a response from the Minister.
Lincolnshire is the country's breadbasket. The county alone produces 30% of the UK’s vegetables and 12% of the country’s total food production. However, it is the target of an incredible amount of very large solar farm proposals. There are currently four large solar farm applications on a "Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project" scale in my constituency which I fear will threaten Lincolnshire's future food production capabilities and impact our local landscape and villages.
The scale of these applications are difficult to imagine, but each is around 2000 or more acres and just one of the proposed solar farms in my constituency is ten times the size of London's Hyde Park alone. I am particularly concerned that despite their size, there is a lack of local engagement and consultation from the companies with the affected community due to current planning rules.
While our transition to net zero remains incredibly important, I have asked the Government to provide alternatives to solar companies industrialising our beloved countryside. This could include looking at brownfield sites, tightening restrictions on the grade of land allowed for solar farms to be built on, utilising south-facing industrial roof space and having more joint up plans for our country's land use. I am grateful to the Minister for his time listening to the views of my constituents and look forward to continuing to work with the Government on this issue.
