Written questions

Solar Power: Agriculture

Commons · Question 11327 · Tabled 18 Jun 2026 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · Official record

Answered 26 Jun 2026

Question

Asked by Patrick Spencer

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department issues to planning inspectors on the weighting to be given to Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land when determining solar farm appeals; and whether he

Answer

Answered by Michael Shanks, 26 Jun 2026

Appeals against planning refusal are decided in accordance with the applicable planning policies - in most cases, these are the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance. These state that, wherever possible, developers should u...