VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Renewable Energy: Land Use

Asked by Nick TimothyConservativeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 18 December 2024UIN 19983

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether an assessment has been made of the potential impact of expanding (a) onshore wind and (b) solar energy on the availability of agricultural land.

Answered by Michael Shanks

Current planning policies guide developments away from using Best and Most Versatile agricultural land where possible. Developers will submit information on land use and classification when seeking planning consent, and this information will be taken into account by decision makers. However, Government does not set a prescriptive approach and as such does not hold this information.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim