Concerns raised over large-scale solar farm project in England

A controversial proposal to build one of the UK’s largest solar farms has sparked strong opposition from local leaders and residents, with critics warning of its potential impact on the countryside, food production, and rural communities.

The proposed Green Hill Solar Farm would cover approximately 1,200 hectares of farmland located south and west of Wellingborough and north of Northampton, in central England. With a planned maximum output of 500 megawatts, the facility aims to power more than 115,000 homes and contribute significantly to the UK’s net-zero carbon emissions target, according to BBC.

However, opposition is mounting over the scale and location of the project. John Slope, a councillor representing the Moulton ward for the Reform UK party on West Northamptonshire Council, voiced serious concerns.

"It is an industrial-scale development that will devastate our landscape, threaten our food security and put our rural communities at risk," Slope said.

Because of its size and output, the Green Hill project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning that final approval will come from the UK government rather than local planning authorities. This has further raised tensions among those who believe local voices are being sidelined.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, numerous other councillors have also spoken out about the loss of agricultural land, the visual impact on the landscape, and fears of future expansion if the initial project is approved. Fourteen parish councils in the area have submitted formal objections.

Slope urged fellow councillors to resist the project:

"This is an extremely serious thing that we are looking at today. I urge colleagues to stand with residents and send a strong message to the Secretary of State that West Northamptonshire will not be a dumping ground for oversized, subsidy-driven solar farms."

Developers of the Green Hill Solar Farm argue the project is necessary for the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources. According to its official website, the facility aims to begin supplying electricity to homes by 2029.

The UK Planning Inspectorate is expected to begin its examination of the proposal in October. The review process will last six months before a recommendation is made to the Secretary of State for final approval.

By Sabina Mammadli