This document sets out the considerations that should be given to assessing the impact of solar farms on agricultural land, both in policy and practical terms, emphasising the importance of considering factors such as food security, biodiversity, and soil health.
Intended to be a useful aid for Local Planning Authorities in their decision making, the document discusses the relationship between solar energy development and agricultural land use policies, highlighting the need to balance renewable energy goals with the preservation of Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land (BMVAL).
SEUK would like to thank Dr Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU), for help in drafting this factsheet.
