Farmland under siege from solar
We were delighted to join in an evening of lively debate hosted by SOSLevels.
Are you concerned about farmland being converted into electricity generating stations and concreted over for housing?
Shouldn’t we be using our farmland for growing our own food and restoring nature?
Local campaign group SOSLevels are gathering evidence to fight off a solar farm application on farmland near Pedwell. They hosted an event in October 2024 to discuss these very issues and invited our Planner, Fletcher Robinson to be one of the guest speakers. The event was a great success, and packed the Shapwick pavilion.
The case against solar on our farmland
The first speaker was Andrew Lee, Editor of Somerset Confidential, who spoke about the conflict between food security and the wasteful use of our best agricultural land for solar installations and housing developments.
Next up was our Planner, Fletcher Robinson, who focused on two themes. Firstly, the blighting of our beautiful Somerset landscapes, particularly of valued landscapes such as the Axe, Tone and Washford river valleys. Secondly, CPRE’s rooftop revolution campaign. CPRE has found that over half the solar panels needed to hit national net zero targets could be fitted on rooftops and in car parks. We are calling for at least 60% of the solar energy required by 2035 to be delivered through rooftop solar. Fletcher shared some optimism that the Government will be developing a Land Use Plan; something which CPRE has long called for.
Jan Owen recently fought against a proposed solar park and battery plant in the beautiful river Tone valley near Creech St Michael. She spoke movingly about the ecological disaster of the Cleve Hill solar Park in Kent. Jan also rebuked the exaggerated claims for power output made by developers, based on the theoretical and unachievable nameplate capacity.
Sam Small, a local dairy and beef farmer, told us why she has rejected lucrative offers from solar companies and chooses to continue to farm on the Levels.
Local resident, Anthony Lippmann, explained the questionable green credentials of solar panel production. He felt that peatlands are already working hard for our planet, storing carbon and holding water during times of flood, and they should be valued for that.
Thought provoking stuff
In the lively debate that followed, topics discussed included:
- the disproportionally large impacts on our landscapes from solar development. Solar farms only contribute less than 5% of our electricity generation. ,They produce no energy at night or in winter when demand is greatest;
- the scandalous way we are lagging behind other countries in getting panels onto rooftops. We are way behind Germany, Italy, Poland, Japan and China. Only 5% of commercial buildings in the UK have panels on them, and they are not mandatory on new housing.
- the myth promoted by solar developers that sheep can be grazed under panels. This argument is regularly used to justify using our top quality agricultural land for solar development. We heard direct evidence from farmers saying that they cannot round up sheep under panels even with good dogs. They cannot graze ewes with lambs under panels as they need a richer diet and they cannot monitor them remotely with cameras.

Thinking differently
Questions were raised about small modular reactors, a new technology which can power one million homes from an area the size of two football pitches. When can we can expect one of these in Somerset?
Members of the audience were curious as to why Somerset Council is not lobbying government for more offshore wind? This produces 30% of our electricity generation already and there is scope for more. However, decisions made by Somerset Council appear to condone the damage to our valuable landscapes with more solar farms instead.
Several speakers lamented the absence of Somerset councillors at the event. Others asked when the new government will act decisively to ramp up rooftop usage, or whether it will duck the issue entirely.
What can I do?
If you agree that we should have more rooftop solar, please tell the government by signing our petition.
Sign our petition calling for more rooftop solar
You can also comment on planning applications in your area. Why not demand rooftop solar as standard on all new housing developments? If you want advice on how to do this, contact us
You can read CPRE’s helpful explainer on solar energy and the countryside here
You can support our vital work speaking up for Somerset’s countryside by becoming a member or making a donation.
