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Solar Farms

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Meeting with Parish Councils about Solar Farms

Richard is committed to protecting farmland from opportunistic, short-term solutions to clean energy goals and preserving the countryside from a proliferation of ten-foot solar panels. As a CPRE Rooftop Solar Champion, Richard advocates for rooftop solar as a viable energy solution. Learn more about Richard's role.

In March 2024, Richard met with Cambridge Power to discuss their Cobholden Solar Farm proposal, stressing the importance of community engagement and clear communication. 

Distinct from the Cambridge Power proposal is the East Park Energy project, which Richard has actively engaged with since he was made aware of the proposal. In November 2023, Richard met with the Parish Councils of Little Staughton, Dean and Shelton, Swineshead and Pertenhall, and Bolnhurst and Keysoe to address their concerns. Read more about these meetings.

Richard has been gathering feedback from residents and encourages further input on the proposed 1900 acre solar farm, which would significantly alter the North Bedfordshire landscape.  The proposed 1,900 acre solar farm would be sited on land that is designated 74% Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land.

Richard has continued to press the Government on national policy regarding the use of agricultural land for solar farms, as seen in his parliamentary question. View the details and the Minister’s response.

Following discussions with RNA Energy, Richard published his letter to them and their responses to his questions. Read the correspondence here.

Although the then-developer RNA Energy declined Richard's recommendation to host public meetings, he remains proactive. In April 2024, he held a further virtual meeting with local Parish Councils to discuss the next steps. Find out more about this meeting. He has since met with them and local activists a number of times, most recently in March 2025.

Since RNA Energy's correspondence in February 2024, Brockwell Energy has acquired the East Park Energy project. Richard met with Brockwell Energy in May to convey constituent concerns and urged them to engage with local residents. Richard continues to advocate for community involvement and transparency in these proposals.

Within days of the General Election on 4 July 2024, the new Labour government gave the go-ahead to three large solar farm proposals in the country, one in Lincolnshire, one covering Rutland and Lincolnshire and the other in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. In light of this news, Richard again met with the owners of the East Park Energy project and with affected parish councils to discuss their reaction to the news and to ensure that residents' voices are heard as much as possible in the planning process.

The statutory consultation on this proposal ran from Tuesday 24 September 2024 until Tuesday 29 October 2024. Richard objected to the proposals and his submission to the consultation can be read here.

Given that the Labour Government appears to be moving fast to approve other solar farm proposals, Richard also wrote to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, to ask for a meeting with him to discuss the East Park Energy solar farm proposal in his constituency.

In February 2025, Richard took part in a parliamentary debate about the siting of solar farms on agricultural land. You can read more here.

In May 2025, Richard submitted evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s inquiry into the Government’s draft National Policy Statements (NPS) for energy infrastructure. The inquiry seeks views on how national planning policy can support the UK’s energy goals while respecting local communities and the environment. You can read his submission here.

See below for all of Richard's news on Solar Power and Solar Farms. 

 

News

300 people attend East Park Solar Farm walk

Sunday, 15 June, 2025
On Sunday, June 8th, Richard joined almost 300 local residents concerned about plans to build a 1,900 acre East Park Solar Farm which will be a massive blight on the countryside of North Bedfordshire and sprawls over the border into Huntingdonshire.Richard Fuller MP said;On Sunday I joined almost 30
image of a solar farm

Join the community walk against solar farms in Little Staughton this Sunday

Thursday, 5 June, 2025
On Sunday, June 8th, Richard will be joining local residents and many thousand others across the country concerned about plans to impose super large-scale solar power infrastructure on our countryside and locally against the 1,900 acre East Park Solar Farm which will be a massive blight on the count
Solar farm

Richard Responds to National Energy Infrastructure Planning Inquiry on Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025
Richard Fuller MP has submitted evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s inquiry into the Government’s draft National Policy Statements (NPS) for energy infrastructure.
Richard Fuller MP with CPRE Chief Executive Roger Mortlock and public affairs manager, Ed Molyneux

Richard meets with CPRE The Countryside Charity to discuss local issues including solar farms

Monday, 12 May, 2025
This week, Richard met with the CPRE The countryside charity in Westminster.Richard Fuller MP said:CPRE do a magnificent job highlighting issues of importance to rural Britain.In my time as an MP, I have had a great working relationship with CPRE Bedfordshire and have been proud to support their cam
Richard Fuller MP with CPRE Bedfordshire

Richard meets with CPRE Bedfordshire to discuss solar farms, EWR and potential housing at Tempsford

Tuesday, 1 April, 2025
Last month, Richard met again with members of Bedfordshire’s CPRE The countryside charity to discuss the considerable infrastructure projects planned in Bedfordshire over the coming years and the impact they will have on the local environment.Richard Fuller MP said:Whether people like the concept or
SolarQ map of constituencies where more than 1% of their entire land area would be covered by glass

Richard attends meeting for constituencies most affected by solar farms

Friday, 28 March, 2025
Last week, Richard attended a cross-party meeting in Parliament hosted by SolarQ for Members of Parliament representing constituencies with high levels of planned or existing solar installations.

Have your say on the Clapham Bedfordia Solar Farm Proposal by 13th March

Tuesday, 4 March, 2025
Further to meeting with Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) and Alpaca Communications to discuss their proposals for the Bedfordia Solar Farm, Richard Fuller MP visited the public consultation event in Clapham Village Hall last Thursday.
Political meeting of Stop East Park Energy

Richard meets with Stop East Park Energy and other political leaders

Sunday, 2 March, 2025
Last Friday, Richard attended a Political Stakeholders’ meeting about East Park Energy in Gt Staughton Village Hall to add his support to the unprecedented weight of local opposition to this enormous proposed solar farm.Richard Fuller MP said:I was joined by the Parish Councils affected by the solar
Response from Ed Miliband re BMV Land

Richard welcomes Government Commitment to Protect Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land in Solar Project Applications

Monday, 24 February, 2025
Earlier this month, Richard wrote to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, to seek clarification on whether Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land remains a criterion in solar project assessments, and if its weighting in approval decisions has changed. Richard's letter can be read here.
Richard Fuller MP meeting with the Stop East Park Energy campaign group

Richard asks the Secretary of State to clarify if Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land Still a Criterion in Assessments for Solar Projects

Tuesday, 11 February, 2025
At the recent Westminster Hall Debate on Solar Farms on Agricultural Land, Richard asked the Industry Minister for confirmation that government guidance remains that use of BMV (best and most versatile agricultural land), should be avoided as much as possible in the siting of solar farms. Richa
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