Labour slammed for ‘dictator’ approach as farmland lost to solar | UK | News

The government has been labeled a “dictatorship” by angry campaigners after Energy Secretary Ed Miliband ordered Britain’s largest ever solar farm built on farmland. The Tillbridge Solar Project was approved by Labor for a 3,000-acre site in Lincolnshire this week, despite widespread opposition from councillors, MPs and landowners who risk losing their jobs due to the government’s latest move towards Net Zero targets. Nick Hill, 55, a first-generation farmer from Gainsborough, West Lindsey, may be the person most affected by the development, as a potential cable corridor for the project has been earmarked for the middle of his newly purchased property.

The renewable energy project’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) status means those behind the project can apply for Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO), leaving Mr Hill with no option but to collect the compensation. “I bought all the land we have here myself and I’m pretty proud of it,” he told the Express. “People may think it’s crazy to start farming when there’s so little money to be made, but it’s something I wanted to do. If they get permission to lay cables under the fields, it will have a huge impact on our future here.”

It comes amid ongoing criticism of the government’s decision to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on farmland valued at over £1 million, replacing the exemption currently in place. Labor says the change will only affect the country’s 500 richest farmers, but the Country Lands and Business Association estimates up to 70,000 farms in total could be affected. The Daily Express called for a U-turn on policy as part of the Save Britain Family Farms campaign.

“I will continue to fight but I have a strong feeling that we will be given a CPO at any moment,” Mr Hill added. “It’s so frustrating. And it’s not just this project – there are three more NSIP solar farms to be added in West Lindsey on top of the 10,000 acres lost to panels. I think it’s ridiculous.

“What if there’s a war and we can’t get food from abroad? Where’s the security? I despair about Ed Miliband giving rich developers exactly what they want. It’s like the David versus Goliath battle I’m fighting. We never seem to be heard.”

In addition to Tillbridge, the Gate Burton and Cottam solar projects have also been approved in Lincolnshire since Labor came to power, and the nearby West Burton Solar Park is still under construction. All four of the proposals include arable farmland and cover a total area of ​​approximately 10,000 acres.

“The government needs to work for us,” said Simon Skelton, of local campaign group 7000 Acres. “But right now it feels like a Net Zero dictatorship. Labor are fanatics and they approve these projects on an ideological basis, not on a practical basis.”
Mr Skelton said Lincolnshire had become a microcosm of the problem he thought would soon face the whole of rural Britain – with hundreds of thousands of acres of solar panels dotted with solar panels being brushed aside by the near-unanimous response of decision-makers.

“They are galvanizing the public,” he added. “They keep saying it will be less than 1% of the land, but I would say up to 20% of farmland in my area has been lost to solar. There is no compromise or compassion for the people affected by these massive plans. You come to live in the countryside for a reason; you don’t come here to live in a solar desert.”

The Tillbridge project will be larger than any existing solar farm when built in the UK and will be just the latest of its kind to be given the green light by Mr Miliband. Most of the projects will be developed in eastern England, targeted for its low population, high sunlight and cheap farmland.

The Energy Secretary published a “solar energy roadmap” in June that laid out plans for further increases in solar power generation, including increasing existing capacity from 18 gigawatts to 57 gigawatts within five years.

But not everyone thinks this is the right way forward. “At the end of the day, with these developments you owe it to how many hours of sunshine and daylight you have per day,” Mr. Skelton said. “And part of the reason energy bills are so high is because of renewable energy subsidies. They’re devastating both the countryside and the economy at the same time.”

“If all of these projects go ahead, I will see solar panels everywhere I drive,” he added. “It’s a terrible thought. They should make this change little by little, slowly, to see if we can pull it off, without putting all their eggs squarely in one basket. This is bigotry; virtue signaling on a massive scale.”

Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, struck a similar tone, criticizing Mr Miliband for not following local consensus.

“We are completely opposed to these huge solar farms being approved without any local impact,” he said. “Ed Miliband is behaving like a dictator and industrialising our countryside, leaving food farmland out of agricultural production. These solar farms together cover around 10,000 acres around Gainsborough. That’s enough land to power a city the size of Hull. It’s a disgrace.”

Sean Matthews, leader of the UK-run Reform Lincolnshire Council, which objected to the development, also described its approval at government level as “appalling”.

“This solar factory will be the largest in the UK and will absolutely dwarf nearby villages, destroying the character of the area and depleting the high-quality farmland the UK needs for food security,” he said.

“The fact that local people’s and councils’ objections have been put aside for these massive projects is beyond frustrating. Apart from destroying our prime farmland and changing the nature of our rural county, what do projects like this actually bring to Lincolnshire? Residents have yet to see any reduction in their energy bills or other benefits of these huge eyesores on their doorstep. It’s worth the Government’s need to save productive farmland and local people’s concerns We need him to start giving. communities and stop treating Lincolnshire as a dumping ground for their projects.”

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform England and MP for Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire, similarly said the approval of the Tillbridge project was evidence of the government’s “reckless obsession with the Net Stupid Zero agenda” and warned it was “destroying some of the best arable farmland in the country”.

“We are warning the developers and investors in this project that nothing is off the table, including canceling any subsidy contracts they have secured,” Mr. Tice said. “This is a disgrace that will see bills go up, not down. It’s time to put British farmers and food security first rather than tick ideological boxes. Reform UK stands firmly with the people of Lincolnshire against this needless disrespect for our countryside.”

Alongside political voices, environmental organizations including CPRE have weighed in on the dangers of renewable energy projects being built disproportionately on farmland, citing research showing that almost 60% of the UK’s largest solar farms are developed on prime agricultural land.

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the rural charity, said: “The approval of a mega solar farm covering high-quality farmland the size of Heathrow Airport highlights a deeply worrying trend: the industrialization of the countryside with ground-mounted solar power, while large numbers of rooftops remain unused.

“We don’t need mega solar farms in the countryside. Previous CPRE research has shown that installing solar panels on the roofs of affordable residential and industrial buildings and in car parks could easily meet more than 60% of the government’s solar energy target. Providing more renewable energy is non-negotiable, but delivering it should bring communities together rather than drive them apart.”

Professor Mike Alder, founding chairman of the UK Solar Alliance (UKSA), added that he was concerned that approval of the Tillbridge project was another step towards jeopardizing food security, particularly in a county where significant land has already been allocated to similar schemes.

“There will be a loss in food production, which will lead to more food imports at increased cost to consumers,” he said. “Food security may ultimately be at risk. Land is limited and must be used properly. In the Tillbridge case, this trade-off is not justified.”

The National Farmers Union (NFU) said solar developers could offer attractive diversification opportunities for farmers struggling to make ends meet in a financial climate of tax rises and cost increases, but warned of the “right balance” [should be struck] “Between food production and climate targets.”

“National planning guidance and NFU policy express a preference for large-scale solar farm development to be located on low-quality agricultural land wherever possible, avoiding the most productive and versatile soils,” a spokesman added. “At the local level, developments can have a cumulative impact on an area and the rural community should be taken into account in planning decisions.”

The Tillbridge Solar Project is a joint venture between developers Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy. Luke Murray, Tribus CEO, said: “We are delighted to confirm that Tillbridge Solar has been given the go-ahead and look forward to the project starting to deliver clean energy to people across the UK. As we move towards construction, we are committed to continuing our work with local communities to ensure the project is delivered in a way that respects and suits the area.”

Keith McKinney, Recurrent’s UK and Ireland managing director, added: “Tillbridge is one of the most significant solar projects ever planned for the UK and we are thrilled to see the ambition behind it supported by the government’s decision to give it the go-ahead. “Through our plans, we will not only provide clean energy to hundreds of thousands of homes, but will also give the project back to the environment around it and support the local communities in which it is rooted. “We will develop it to support it.”

The government has said all planning projects are subject to strict processes, including taking into account the views of the local community, and insisted that in the most ambitious scenario solar power would occupy just 0.4% of total land in the UK by 2030.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks added: “Families in Lincolnshire and the rest of the country have seen their energy bills skyrocket as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices.

“Solar energy is one of the cheapest and fastest energy sources we can build. It is crucial in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, giving us energy security, good jobs and growth across the country.”