Liberal Democrat and Labour peers have voted against plans to protect Britain’s best farmland from being turned into industrial-scale solar developments.
In a vote on 20 October, peers considered Amendment 43 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, brought forward by Conservative peer Lord Fuller. The proposal would have stopped “nationally significant infrastructure projects” being built on the UK’s best and most versatile farmland, land classed as Grades 1 and 2 that underpins much of Britain’s food production.
The amendment was defeated by 57 votes to 32, after Liberal Democrat and Labour peers joined forces to oppose it, blocking a move designed to safeguard productive farmland for future generations.
Lord Fuller said the vote showed where the parties’ real priorities lie, “Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted to block Conservative plans to protect quality farmland from being overrun by unpopular solar power projects, standing up for farmers and putting Britain's food security first.
Food security is national security, which is why Conservative peers voted to amend the bill, but Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces to oppose our amendment, showing they have the wrong priorities and will not stand up for our farming communities.”
The amendment’s defeat means there are now fewer barriers to large-scale solar farms being built on productive farmland, instead of being focused on rooftops, brownfield sites or lower-grade land.
Farming and rural campaigners have warned that the decision undermines food security and rural jobs at a time when the UK already imports nearly half of what it eats.
James Wright, farmer and campaigner, said, “Britain needs both food and energy, but this decision shows how out of touch Labour and the Liberal Democrats are with the realities of rural life.
Farmers want to play their part in renewable energy, but that doesn’t mean turning our best fields into glass. Our countryside feeds the nation, it shouldn’t be sacrificed to short-term political fashion.”
