The proposal for a large scale solar farm at Old Malton creates a dilemma for Ryedale District Council as the planning application will use 56% Best and Most Versatile Land but is also located at the only feasible access point to the electricity grid.

These material considerations reflect the importance of both food security and energy security in planning policy at all levels. The Draft National Planning Policy on Renewables continues to support current policy – ‘while it is preferable to avoid the use of BMV land where possible, it should not be a predominating factor in determining the suitability of a site location’. The Ryedale Development Plan notes the paucity of feasible brownfield sites for development and acknowledges some greenfield sites may be needed.

Northern Powergrid’s power generation map shows Malton as the only bulk supply point in Ryedale and illustrates how constrained access to the grid is within the county. The postcodes served by the bulk station are mainly YO17, so the installation would be an important resource to help maintain security of local supply, particularly in conjunction with battery storage to aid grid balancing. When considering the use of BMV land, the amount proposed at Malton is a small percentage of all the good quality land within Ryedale. Understandably, local people are concerned for the tenants who would lose a vast amount of their farmland. Tenant farmers should be protected so that they are able to continue with their livelihood without any loss to their standard of living, whatever the type of development and I hope the landlord ensures the tenants are fairly compensated should permission be granted in this case.

However, should permission be denied, a valuable opportunity to use a scarce grid asset to reduce Ryedale’s carbon footprint, improve local access to green energy and help maintain security of supply will be missed. The DEFRA Food Security Report 2021 states “Climate change poses a risk to food production already. Minimising the extent of global warming and addressing the risks it poses to food production are essential to future food security”.

Hazel Winter, Kirby Misperton