East Midlands Mayor shares view on solar farms with huge schemes planned for region
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward has laid out her stance on solar farms in response to pressure from campaigners opposed to planned schemes in the region. Prominent schemes in the East Midlands include the 7,000-acre Great North Road Solar Park, north-west of Newark in Nottinghamshire, which could be the largest in the whole of Western Europe, and the 410-acre Oaklands solar farm, between Walton and Rosliston in southern Derbyshire, which when it was filed would have represented the largest in the UK.
At an East Midlands Combined County Authority meeting in Derby today (September 16), Mayor Ward fielded five questions from concerned campaigners, with each receiving an identical response. Richard Gill had said the region “faces several large-scale solar proposals that could cover thousands of acres of countryside, turning productive farmland into huge solar plants” claiming this would “fundamentally alter our landscape for a generation”.
He asked the EMCCA to prioritise rooftops instead of farmland, to follow the pattern of the Netherlands, which generates 80 per cent of its solar power from rooftop panels. Richard Allarton warned of the “planned mass industrialisation of large parts of the agricultural East Midlands through the proposal of major solar arrays” with concerns over wildlife, flood risk and well-being of residents and protection of land used to grow the nation’s food – with the UK producing 60 per cent of its own need.
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Paul Mitchell feared the solar farm plans for the region would see its landscape “move from beautiful countryside to large areas of ‘greyness’, with more than 10,000 acres set for solar development in Nottinghamshire. In response, Mayor Ward said: “Our region, like much of the UK, is facing the dual challenges of reducing carbon emissions and ensuring food security.
“Solar energy, both rooftop and ground-mounted, will play a significant role in achieving the UK’s net-zero targets. However, we must do this in a way that protects our landscape, food, and environment.
“The East Midlands’ heritage is one of both the production of power and places of beauty, and these should be the bases for our future prosperity as well. In striking this balance, decisions must also take into account the impact on local families’ livelihoods. In our commitment to a sustainable future, I fully support the development of clean energy sources, including solar power.
“Solar energy plays a vital role in reducing our carbon footprint, meeting our energy needs, and the creation of jobs. As we look to the future, it is essential that we continue to encourage innovation in renewable energy while ensuring that our community benefits from the economic and environmental advantages that solar energy offers.
“However, I also recognize the importance of protecting our agricultural land, which is crucial for local food production and long-term food security. Agricultural land is a finite and valuable resource that sustains our community’s wellbeing, providing not only food but also jobs and economic stability.
“Equally, the East Midlands is a beautiful region to live in, and I want to encourage more people to visit and enjoy that beauty for themselves. The CCA does not have planning powers, but I will advocate for a balanced approach that prioritises both clean energy development and the protection of our natural environments.
“By exploring opportunities for solar development on the most suitable land and examining opportunities to integrate solar panels into existing infrastructure, we can achieve a solution that serves our energy and economic needs as well as our commitment to food security and a flourishing natural environment.”