UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly contemplating measures to limit the installation of solar panels on extensive stretches of British farmland. Citing sources, The Observer newspaper reported that Sunak, along with Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey, is revisiting the idea of imposing new constraints by granting additional powers to planning officials under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
These proposed changes would empower officials to veto solar projects that could potentially jeopardize “food security,” as outlined in the report. The amendment to the framework within the NPPF was crafted by Greg Smith, Member of Parliament for Buckingham.
Smith explained his rationale, stating, “This is a clear and straightforward safeguard that planning authorities across the country can use to assess whether a development on farmland could impact our local food security. It provides a legitimate basis for rejecting applications.”
Thérèse Coffey affirmed to The Observer that the revised NPPF would be unveiled later this year and emphasized that the primary focus of farmland should remain on food production.
These deliberations underscore the evolving dynamics surrounding renewable energy projects and their potential impact on agricultural landscapes, bringing into sharp focus the need to strike a balance between clean energy goals and food security concerns in the United Kingdom.
