Members of the Suffolk GLI (Green, Lib Dem and Independent) group , who form the official opposition at Suffolk County Council, expressed their delight today that their motion requesting a joined-up approach to solar power from the government was approved by the council this afternoon.
Recent solar farm applications have seen approvals granted by the Planning Inspectorate on the best quality and most versatile agricultural land, for example the Gunthorpe Road development in Lincolnshire last year. Despite its good quality agricultural land, Suffolk has also been a target for solar farm development, including the recently approved Sunnica proposals for the west of the county, and the White Elm solar farm planned for Mid Suffolk.
Despite some changes to planning law at the end of 2023, not enough is being done to ensure that new homes have renewable energy courses – which reduces energy bills as well as the environmental benefits.
In addition, solar panels could be retrofitted to homes and commercial buildings, or on car park canopies as can be seen in France. A focus on rooftop solar would be preferable to taking good quality farmland out of action for years at a time.
Whilst solar panels on roofs cannot provide all of the 58GW that England needs to provide to meet the UK’s solar targets, the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group are clear that rooftops are the preferred place for solar panels rather the countryside.
Leader of the Green, Lib Dem and Independent group, Andrew Stringer, said:
“I’m very pleased that today’s council meeting recognised the urgent need for a joined-up government policy on solar planning and development.
“Every time a council of any colour tries to develop a policy to insist on solar on new domestic properties, the government stops them by insisting they must not go beyond current building regulations, which cannot compel solar on new domestic roofs.
“Although when properly managed, solar farms can increase biodiversity and give the soil a period of recovery from intensive farming, they are a jarring sight on our beautiful countryside and take up lots of good quality land which we could be using to produce food.
“Our message is ‘Roofs before Rural’ and we would like to see the government making rooftop, urban and brownfield solar power the priority for development.
“Suffolk County Council can set a good example by accelerating its plans to introduce solar panels to its properties and assets, including schools, libraries and buildings on county farms. As well as helping to combat climate change – which is ultimately a far greater threat to farmers and food security than solar farms – this will reduce the council’s spend on energy bills and help it to meet its ambitious 2030 net zero target.”