Councillor Calls for Food Security to Be Key in Solar Farm Decisions

A councillor has asserted that food security ought to be a crucial consideration when evaluating proposals for large-scale solar farms. This statement follows Cornwall Council’s rejection of a 210-acre (85-hectare) solar farm project near the A30 at Carland Cross, and the blocking of another proposal for agricultural land close to Launceston in August. Both rejections were prompted by concerns regarding their visual effect on the landscape. Members of the council contended that planning regulations should be revised to permit the protection of farmland as a legitimate basis for rejecting development applications. The council announced that a land review is scheduled to commence next year, intended to guide decisions on suitable locations for solar farms. The developers responsible for the Carland Cross project, which was envisioned as Cornwall’s largest solar farm, are currently evaluating whether to appeal the decision to prohibit its development. Council members expressed apprehension that such an appeal might succeed, citing the government’s stated objective to triple UK solar power capacity by 2030 to enhance energy security. Councillor Dulcie Tudor, who serves as vice-chairwoman of the council’s Strategic Planning Committee, stated that their position would be more robust if they were able to emphasize the significance of food security. She remarked: “We were feeling, ‘Where we can make a point about the loss of agricultural land and the concern about food security?’ “We weren’t able to do that within planning policies.” Cornwall Council declared a “climate emergency” in 2019, setting a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Furthermore, in April, the authority consented to commission a study into the commercial worth of agricultural land within Cornwall. Proponents suggest that the region’s climate allows certain land to be more productive compared to other areas of the country. Tudor expressed her conviction that additional research on this matter would be beneficial. She commented: “We don’t have that information,” she said.”We don’t know much land is being forfeited and we don’t know how to judge that on its grade either.” Professor Peter Connor, a renewable energy expert affiliated with the University of Exeter, indicated that a middle ground regarding the utilization of agricultural land is achievable. He stated: “You can put solar panels on land and still have some sort of farm production – growing crops or having animals,” he said.”We’re still looking at what the yields would be like from combining the two, but it’s absolutely possible.” In a formal statement, Cornwall Council affirmed: “Any changes to planning policy must be included in the council’s Local Plan. “The first phase will be undertaken next year, including reviewing land use trends.”The council is working with potential suppliers to ensure that we commission good value, relevant and useful work to inform planning policy on solar farms.”