Tenant Farmers Association Demands Urgent Government Action Over Solar Farms Displacing Farmers

Strategic Insights -

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has called on the UK government to take immediate action to address the growing issue of solar farms displacing tenant farmers with little or no compensation. The TFA has highlighted what it describes as a broken promise by Sir Keir Starmer, who stated at the 2023 NFU conference that solar farms must not be created "by taking advantage of our tenant farmers."

In a letter to Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner, the TFA highlighted the need for formal guidance to be issued to councils and planning inspectors to ensure tenant farmers' rights are properly considered. The association also called for the government to confirm the timeline for implementing the Solar Roadmap provisions and to review whether the fair compensation principle could be applied to planning decisions already taken.

The issue is not isolated to a single farm or family. The Sturdy family of Malton has been tenant farmers for over 50 years, but their land has been approved for a solar farm. Emma Sturdy, a tenant farmer, stated that the statutory compensation they would be likely to receive - in the region of six times their annual rent - would not recognise tenants' real losses.

The TFA's letter also highlighted the problems caused by the government's post-election planning decisions, which have led to a surge in solar developments being approved despite concerns over the impact on tenant farmers. Recent months have seen a litany of proposals to develop solar arrays on Yorkshire farmland, some of which is classed as BMV (best and most versatile).

Key Takeaways:

  • The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has called on the UK government to take immediate action to address the growing issue of solar farms displacing tenant farmers with little or no compensation.
  • The TFA has highlighted what it describes as a broken promise by Sir Keir Starmer, who stated at the 2023 NFU conference that solar farms must not be created "by taking advantage of our tenant farmers."
  • The association has called for formal guidance to be issued to councils and planning inspectors to ensure tenant farmers' rights are properly considered.
  • The government has been criticized for approving solar farms despite concerns over the impact on tenant farmers, with 59% of operational solar developments generating over 30MW situated on farmland.
  • The CPRE (countryside charity) has pressed for a target for at least 60% of new solar capacity to come from rooftops, car parks, and brownfield sites and ban solar development on the most fertile farmland.
  • The Sturdy family, tenant farmers for over 50 years, have been forced to accept a statutory compensation of six times their annual rent, which they believe does not recognize their real losses.

Statistics:

  • 59% of the country's 38 operational solar developments generating over 30MW are situated on farmland (CPRE analysis).
  • 31% of the total land covered by panels classed as best and most versatile (BMV) for agriculture (CPRE analysis).
  • 157 acres of farmland in Yorkshire have been proposed for a solar array near Beningbrough.
  • 254 acres of farmland in Yorkshire have been proposed for a solar array near Wickersley.
  • 148 acres of farmland in Yorkshire have been proposed for a solar array at Cawood.
  • 3,155 acres of farmland in Yorkshire have been approved for a solar farm near Howden.

Sources:

  • Letter from the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) to Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner (exact date not specified).
  • Analysis by countryside charity CPRE (exact date not specified).
  • Image: https://imagestore.jpimedia.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkyZjZhMTBmLWZiMjItNDQwNy1iZDExLTE5ZDg1YjA2N2M1MToxMTkwMjQ3Ny0wNmVmLTQxZmItYWRkYy04YmRkMWZkMWYwNDU=.jpg
  • Image: https://imagestore.jpimedia.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI3ZDYyZGUyLWMyYzAtNDFiZC1iZjhhLTk2MTE2ZjU1MjhjOToxZWU2MTMyYy00ZWZiLTQ2OWQtOWZhYy0zMzMwYTczY2Q2ZWU=.jpg
  • The Guardian (exact date not specified)