A contentious solar farm proposal has been approved on grade 3a agricultural land in North East Somerset, as local councillors weighed the balance between preserving quality farmland and advancing renewable energy goals.
The project, located just east of Paulton, is designed to generate enough electricity to power approximately 3,210 homes annually. However, it has prompted debate since 60% of its 15.64 hectares (38.65 acres) encompass grade 3a farmland, considered some of the “best and most versatile” for arable use, ranking just below grades one and two.
PACE, the developers behind the scheme, emphasized that the land is presently used for beef production and that under the proposed “tried and tested” design, sheep grazing would continue beneath the solar panels. Luke Shackleton, PACE’s development manager and a Somerset native from a beef and sheep farming background, reassured critics: “Our proposal poses no threat to food security. Cattle and sheep have similar food conversion rates.”
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In addition to solar panels, the plan includes the installation of 49 shipping containers on hardstanding areas—36 of which will house battery storage systems to retain power for peak demand periods. Local resident Daniel Keynes voiced his objection at Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee meeting on June 4, describing the project as “an over the top, highly visible, full-on, major power generation proposal on an industrial scale.”
Conversely, Paulton councillor and chair of the parish council’s planning committee, Cllr Liz Hardman (Labour), spoke in support: “Most local people, especially in Paulton, back this plan. It seems unlikely to have a major impact on our area. The site’s location, nestled between two higher land areas and screened by hedgerows, makes it suitable.” She added that the benefits of renewable energy outweigh the loss of moderately high-quality farmland in this instance.
Though the solar farm borders Paulton, it lies within the Midsomer Norton North ward, whose councillors sit on the planning committee and whose town council formally objected to the development.
Independent councillor Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North) shared that he had received mixed feedback but personally felt this site was inappropriate: “While I support solar energy, this isn’t merely fields with panels and grazing sheep. It’s a massive industrial development with 36 battery containers plus 13 containers for transformers and converters.”
Conservative councillor Tim Warren (also Midsomer Norton North) questioned the net environmental benefit, highlighting the broader impacts of converting farmland to solar use. He cited a farmer who faced challenges producing silage since converting land into a solar farm, leading to increased vehicle journeys and traffic. “What’s being built is almost a metal town between Midsomer Norton and Radstock,” he remarked. “I cannot support this.”
Despite opposition, the planning committee approved the scheme by a 7-3 vote. Permission grants operation of the solar farm for 45 years, after which it must be decommissioned and the land restored to agricultural use.