Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating the Solar Energy Planning Guidance to give the same protections to ordinary agricultural land, categories Agricultural Land Classification Grade 3b and below, that it receives in other planning guidance.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the benefits from natural capital, including those from the best and most versatile agricultural land. Though the Framework does not refer to agricultural land that is less versatile (graded 3b, 4 or 5 by Natural England), it does expect local planning authorities to have regard to the character and beauty of the countryside, and to protect valued soils and landscapes. Wherever possible, authorities should make the most of brownfield land for development.

The Framework explains that all communities have a responsibility to help increase the use and supply of green energy, but this does not mean that the need for renewable energy automatically overrides environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. As with other types of development, it is important that the planning concerns of local communities are properly heard in matters that directly affect them.