The deputy prime minister is to rule on whether a solar energy company can erect panels on about 52ha of tenanted farmland in North Yorkshire, after she snatched that decision-making process away from a planning inspector.

Angela Rayner stepped in just four days before Harmony Energy Ltd’s appeal hearing against North Yorkshire Council’s decision to refuse permission for the proposed development on land at Old Malton, Malton.

See also: Victory for Yorkshire tenants as solar farm proposal rejected

Instead of the appeal being determined by the planning inspector, Ms Rayner, who is also the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, decided she should make that decision because it involves “proposals of major significance for the delivery of the government’s climate change programme and energy policy”.

Earlier this month energy secretary Ed Miliband pledged to “take on the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists” opposed to the government’s rollout of wind turbines, solar farms and pylons across the UK.

Three generations

At the centre of the Old Malton appeal is land that has been farmed for three generations by tenant farmers Robert and Emma Sturdy and owned by the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation Ltd.

The Sturdys were relieved when planners threw out the application in October 2023, as the development would have removed about 40% of their 113ha.

Mrs Sturdy spoke about the impact it was having on their mental health. “It has taken over our lives completely, it is every day, it is a full-time job, it’s incredibly stressful and it’s incredibly expensive too,” she said.

Speaking on their behalf at the hearing at Malton on Tuesday (24 September) was George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association.

Mr Dunn suggested that North Yorkshire Strategic Planning Committee’s decision to refuse the application was the right one, as the development would permanently deprive the tenants of nearly half of their tenanted holding.

He also pointed to the food security pledges Sir Kier Starmer made at the 2023 NFU conference, when he was leader of the opposition.

Opportunities

The now prime minister spoke about the opportunities from solar energy for farmers, but insisted that it couldn’t be done by “taking advantage of tenant farmers, farmers producing good British food on carefully maintained, fertile land”.

“They can’t plan properly if the soil beneath their feet isn’t secure,” he said.

Harmony Energy has said it is important that a solar development is sited as close as possible to the point of connection – in this case, a neighbouring electricity substation.

While the panels would take agricultural land out of production, the company said it had “worked really hard” to utilise the poorest performing land.

The appeal inspector will make a recommendation to Ms Rayner, and she will make the final decision in due course.