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‘Monstrous’ solar projects ‘taking over farmland’

12 Jun 2025 3 minute read
Photo Thomas R Machnitzki is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

Senedd members debated calls for a temporary ban on “monstrous” solar developments, warning the countryside, food security and Welsh farmers could all be compromised.

Janet Finch-Saunders said hundreds of acres of agricultural land across Wales will otherwise be switched from a focus on food production to electricity generation.

The shadow climate secretary accused UK and Welsh ministers of turning the countryside into “meadows of metal and glass” by approving “huge, controversial” developments

Leading a Conservative debate on June 11, Ms Finch-Saunders called for a moratorium on all applications to place solar panels on agricultural land.

She said: “Such a pause will enable this parliament to develop a solar strategy for Wales, looking at where we want those panels to be placed and where they are made.”

‘Monstrosities’

Criticising plans for solar on Anglesey, she told the Senedd: “I think we’re quite united on these monstrosities; these huge schemes are not what are in the interests of Wales.”

Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher supported the principle but called for a nuanced approach, describing the Conservative motion as “too blunt” and warning of unfair consequences.

He said: “If an individual farmer wanted to install a modest number of solar panels on their own land, perhaps to power their farm, cut emissions or generate a little extra income, they’d be prevented from doing so. Now, that simply doesn’t make sense.”

Peter Fox, the Tory council leader-turned-Senedd member, warned of a lack of a national solar strategy to guide investment, regulation and grid integration.

He urged the Welsh Government to look at more innovative options, such as the rooftops of public buildings, rather than “needlessly building over good farmland throughout Wales”.

‘Vacuum’

Mr Fox, a farmer, said: “We cannot simply sell parts of Wales’s natural beauty off to the highest bidder, for it to be used simply as an investment.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth also called for a strategy, describing solar as “another example of that extraction that has been characteristic of Wales’ industrial history”.

He said: “In that vacuum without a strategy, these major corporations step in and see how they can make their millions from our landscape, agricultural land and our communities.”

Conservative Gareth Davies warned replacing farmers with an array of solar panels built from polluting factories, largely in China, risks undermining the principle of sustainability.

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths and Labour’s John Griffiths raised concerns about plans for solar farms on the Gwent levels, potentially the size of a thousand rugby pitches.

‘Clear commitment’

Mr Griffiths welcomed recent changes to Planning Policy Wales which “offer much greater protection through the planning system against some of these large-scale solar farms”.

Rebecca Evans, responding for the Welsh Government, said solar plays an important part in an ambition to host enough green energy to meet electricity consumption by 2035.

The economy secretary explained that there are more than 86,000 solar projects across Wales, making up about 15% of total renewable energy generation.

Ms Evans argued national planning policy already includes a “clear commitment” to protecting agricultural land when considering applications.

Senedd members voted 23-13 against the Tory motion, with 10 abstaining. The Welsh Government’s “delete-all” amendment was also defeated, 24-23.


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23 Comments
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Amir
Amir
21 days ago

Only place for solar panels is roof tops. Leave the land alone.

Evan Aled Bayton
Evan Aled Bayton
21 days ago

There are a huge number of roofs to cover first before covering good fields. Astonishingly these giant sheds built for Tesco and Amazon apparently don’t have solar panel roofs. Look around IKEA on the M62 and the M6…

Jeff
Jeff
21 days ago

Whats the problem. If there was a profit from crops then it would be crops.

hdavies15
hdavies15
21 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

You need to get out a bit more. The comment above yours spells out a far more sensible approach but I detect that your hatred of farmers gets in the way of any logic.

Jeff
Jeff
21 days ago
Reply to  hdavies15

I am watching politico’s get on the “anti green” band wagon. Orders is orders.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
21 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

People food Jeff. we could be isolated by nuclear fallout in the Channel any day, that old miasma…

Ap Kenneth
Ap Kenneth
21 days ago

Janet Finch-Saunders is a bundle of laughs, being from a party that launched neo-liberal capitalsim upon the UK back in the 1980s and is now complaining about neo-liberal capitalism swallowing up fields. Farmers and landowners are taking the cash for one simple reason, it pays better than farming. Sure in an ideal world every roof would be covered first but the orientation of buildings, structural considerations and legal complications (tenants might want it but the landlord might not be keen) makes large schemes covering say a town virtually impossible, it is piecemeal. It is far simpler to cover a field… Read more »

hdavies15
hdavies15
21 days ago
Reply to  Ap Kenneth

Solar panels on golf courses might be a solution. Might make people a bit more careful where they hit those balls !

Robin
Robin
21 days ago

Solar farms are great for nature, biodiversity increases, plants, insects and other small animals al love places with few people and no agriculture, no noise, no pollution. It also provides shade and cover.

Amir
Amir
21 days ago
Reply to  Robin

I wonder what stops the solar panels from flying away in the wind?

Robin
Robin
20 days ago
Reply to  Amir

Not sure if you’re serious or not as the answer is easy to find online with a simple google search, it’s typically a metal frame that holds the panels in place which doesn’t have much impact on the plants, insects and other animals
comment image.webp

Amir
Amir
20 days ago
Reply to  Robin

They either need deep ground screws or concrete slabs to hold them down. Either way, once they are fitted, the land can no longer be used for growing crops. I don’t understand why when there are so many large warehouses and offices being built, solar panels cannot be fitted to these roofs? I have seen several schools’ roofs get solar panel fitted to them which is surely more environmentally friendly than bolting them to the ground especially in times when there is a need for locally sourced farm produce.

Robin
Robin
18 days ago
Reply to  Amir

My original post said Nothing about using the soils for crops, au contraire; I said it was good for biodiversity as it creates habitats for plants, insects and other animals.
That said, if one wants you can use the soil for both solar as well as crops are the same time, google “agri solar” to see numerous examples. Many types of crops have higher yields when grown under solar and with less water needed for irrigation
comment image

Amir
Amir
18 days ago
Reply to  Robin

The type of panels fitted in the UK does not support agrovoltaics currently and are not the ones asked for in current planning permission. The ones they ask for are packed more tightly together. If there was less greed when asking or after planningis granted, then I can see them working together but the reality is different.

David
David
21 days ago

Cover car parks with solar panels.

Amir
Amir
21 days ago
Reply to  David

Farmland is cheaper easier and more convenient for the rich English investors.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
21 days ago
Reply to  Amir

Any international investor, it is a free for all in Cymru as usual…

Amgylcheddwraig
Amgylcheddwraig
21 days ago

Cymru is a net exporter of electricity. Yes, put panels on buildings by all means. This is attempted colonisation of our agricultural land as all our industrial assets have long been stolen. Pay farmers a proper price for their produce and they wouldn’t be tempted by this

Amir
Amir
21 days ago

I agree but in this comments section it doesn’t seem very popular.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
21 days ago

No digging, ploughing or harvesting involved, sod all to eat though, apart from meat…

Frank
Frank
21 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

I assume you mean Welsh lamb when you say “meat”, something most of us cannot afford.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
21 days ago

Spot on Rhun, what about the roofs of all those massive farm sheds that cover the place nowadays…easy money and faithless energy companies…

Frank
Frank
21 days ago

There is some beautiful countryside in the Cotswolds and Surrey for solar farms and wind turbines.

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