Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat asks Secretary of State Angela Rayner to call in Evolution Power plans for New Ash Green solar farm

An MP is urging the government to call in plans for one of the UK’s biggest solar panel farms.Tom Tugendhat has written to the Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, asking her to consider the proposals for farmland between Ridley and New Ash Green.Residents do no want the solar panels built on the fieldsRenewable energy company Evolution Power submitted plans for a 235-acre solar farm with a battery energy storage system (BESS), cable route and grid connection, to Sevenoaks council in January.It says the scheme, known as New Ash Green Solar, would produce enough electricity to power around 17,200 homes and save 11,500 tonnes of CO2 per year.If approved, it would be operational for 40 years and then the land would return to agricultural use.However, in his letter to the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Tugendhat said he is “deeply concerned” about the proposals and fears it would “set a precedent that weakens countryside protection”.The MP for Tonbridge claims the large-scale solar farm “threatens the biodiversity and ecological balance of the area” and will see the loss of productive farmland.Mr Tugendhat said: “I am deeply concerned that this site may prove a poor use of farmland that could be used to tackle our food and rural communities’ insecuritiesTonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat is asking the government to call in the applicationOne of the fields that could have solar panels on it if the plans are approved“I note that the updated national policy statement for renewable energy infrastructure advises that solar farms should be sited on previously developed and non-agricultural land, which this is not.“These proposals could diminish the value of this land for agricultural purposes during a time of already devastating challenges to British farming.“This site is currently being used for essential agricultural purposes and contributing towards British farming and food security, and the loss of natural land for solar projects must be taken into consideration in the determination of Evolution Power's application.“Renewable energy projects should not come at the expense of sustainable land use or the rural communities that depend on it.”The current tenant uses the land for dairy farming and produces around 416,000 litres of milk a year, however, if the plans go ahead, the fields would be used to graze sheep instead.Evolution Power claims the land is considered grey belt - meaning it is part of the green belt but is lower quality - and therefore the scheme is not an inappropriate development or harmful to the green belt.Where the plans would be if approvedDirector of the company, Conor McNally added: “Any solar project in Sevenoaks will be located in the green belt. Assuming Sevenoaks accepts it has to contributed to the energy transition, then this site is preferable to other areas.“The site does not make a strong green belt contribution and is an area the government considers less important to protect.”Mr Tugendhat has also raised concerns over solar power’s effectiveness, the size of the project and the ethics of manufacturing the panels which he believes part of will be produced in Xinjiang, China.He explained that around 45% of the world’s supply of polysilicon, a key material used in solar panels, is produced in the region where reports have found there to be forced labour and oppression of its Uyghur community.His letter added: “Clearly, this issue extends beyond the remit of Sevenoaks council as a local planning authority.“However, it is both appropriate and essential that our government stands up against human rights abuses abroad, especially when they infiltrate infrastructure projects within our own country.A planning application was validated in January“I am deeply concerned by the well-documented human rights violations associated with the global solar panel supply chain, particularly in relation to this proposal.”According to Mr Tugendhat, Evolution Power has not confirmed if the panels will include parts made from this area.However, Mr McNally said the firm has been in contact with the MP and assured him that it uses ethical suppliers.He said: “We are surprised by Mr Tugendhat's comments and his request for the planning application to be called in, as we have made it clear to him in writing on three separate occasions that Evolution Power has highly ethical supply chains and fully abides by all UK law and regulations."We will not start our procurement process until planning has been decided, but we are happy to reassure him, once again, that Evolution Power will not associate with any supplier where we have the slightest concern regarding working practices and human rights issues."To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.From left: Peter Tasker and Tracey Barnard are against the schemeA decision from Sevenoaks council is expected on the plans later this month if the government does not call in the application.KentOnline spoke to villagers who said they are fighting the proposals as they do not want to see the countryside turned into an “industrial” site.Chairman of opposition group No New Ash Green Solar, Peter Tasker said: “As always, we are most grateful to Mr Tugendhat for his support.“There is overwhelming local opposition to this scheme. All local district councillors, the three affected parish councils, and the New Ash Green Village Association back NoNAGS and share deep concerns about the loss of countryside, risks to heritage, biodiversity, safety, and the impact on local infrastructure.”He said more than 700 residents had submitted formal objections, and more than 2,700 have signed their petition.“The unity and strength of feeling across our communities shows just how strongly people feel that this is the wrong location for such a development,” Mr Tasker added.However, Evolution Power argues there are no alternative sites and the borough is “severely constrained by restrictions to grid capacity”.Villagers have set up a campaign group to fight the plansMr McNally, explained: "The UK has a legal obligation to achieve net zero by 2050, which will require a tripling of solar generation from today’s levels by 2030.“Whilst some of this will be possible on rooftops the majority will need to be delivered by ground-mounted projects.“Due to a lack of investment in the electricity grid, there are a limited number of areas where projects can be developed so they can connect to the grid.”

An MP is urging the government to call in plans for one of the UK’s biggest solar panel farms. Tom Tugendhat has written to the Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, asking her to consider the proposals for farmland between Ridley and New Ash Green . Renewable energy company Evolution Power submitted plans for a 235-acre solar farm with a battery energy storage system (BESS), cable route and grid connection, to Sevenoaks council in January.

It says the scheme, known as New Ash Green Solar, would produce enough electricity to power around 17,200 homes and save 11,500 tonnes of CO2 per year. If approved, it would be operational for 40 years and then the land would return to agricultural use. However, in his letter to the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Tugendhat said he is “deeply concerned” about the proposals and fears it would “set a precedent that weakens countryside protection”.

The MP for Tonbridge claims the large-scale solar farm “threatens the biodiversity and ecological balance of the area” and will see the loss of productive farmland. Mr Tugendhat said: “I am deeply concerned that this site may prove a poor use of farmland that could be used to tackle our food and rural communities’ insecurities “I note that the updated national policy statement for renewable energy infrastructure advises that solar farms should be sited on previously developed and non-agricultural land, which this is not. “These proposals could diminish the value of this land for agricultural purposes during a time of already devastating challenges to British farming.

“This site is currently being used for essential agricultural purposes and contributing towards British farming and food security, and the loss of natural land for solar projects must be taken into consideration in the determination of Evolution Power's application. “Renewable energy projects should not come at the expense of sustainable land use or the rural communities that depend on it.” The current tenant uses the land for dairy farming and produces around 416,000 litres of milk a year, however, if the plans go ahead, the fields would be used to graze sheep instead.

Evolution Power claims the land is considered grey belt - meaning it is part of the green belt but is lower quality - and therefore the scheme is not an inappropriate development or harmful to the green belt. Director of the company, Conor McNally added: “Any solar project in Sevenoaks will be located in the green belt. Assuming Sevenoaks accepts it has to contributed to the energy transition, then this site is preferable to other areas.

“The site does not make a strong green belt contribution and is an area the government considers less important to protect.” Mr Tugendhat has also raised concerns over solar power’s effectiveness, the size of the project and the ethics of manufacturing the panels which he believes part of will be produced in Xinjiang, China. He explained that around 45% of the world’s supply of polysilicon, a key material used in solar panels, is produced in the region where reports have found there to be forced labour and oppression of its Uyghur community.

His letter added: “Clearly, this issue extends beyond the remit of Sevenoaks council as a local planning authority. “However, it is both appropriate and essential that our government stands up against human rights abuses abroad, especially when they infiltrate infrastructure projects within our own country. “I am deeply concerned by the well-documented human rights violations associated with the global solar panel supply chain, particularly in relation to this proposal.

” According to Mr Tugendhat, Evolution Power has not confirmed if the panels will include parts made from this area. However, Mr McNally said the firm has been in contact with the MP and assured him that it uses ethical suppliers. He said: “We are surprised by Mr Tugendhat's comments and his request for the planning application to be called in, as we have made it clear to him in writing on three separate occasions that Evolution Power has highly ethical supply chains and fully abides by all UK law and regulations.

"We will not start our procurement process until planning has been decided, but we are happy to reassure him, once again, that Evolution Power will not associate with any supplier where we have the slightest concern regarding working practices and human rights issues." To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here. A decision from Sevenoaks council is expected on the plans later this month if the government does not call in the application.

KentOnline spoke to villagers who said they are fighting the proposals as they do not want to see the countryside turned into an “industrial” site. Chairman of opposition group No New Ash Green Solar, Peter Tasker said: “As always, we are most grateful to Mr Tugendhat for his support. “There is overwhelming local opposition to this scheme.

All local district councillors, the three affected parish councils, and the New Ash Green Village Association back NoNAGS and share deep concerns about the loss of countryside, risks to heritage, biodiversity, safety, and the impact on local infrastructure.” He said more than 700 residents had submitted formal objections, and more than 2,700 have signed their petition. “The unity and strength of feeling across our communities shows just how strongly people feel that this is the wrong location for such a development,” Mr Tasker added.

However, Evolution Power argues there are no alternative sites and the borough is “severely constrained by restrictions to grid capacity”. Mr McNally, explained: "The UK has a legal obligation to achieve net zero by 2050, which will require a tripling of solar generation from today’s levels by 2030. “Whilst some of this will be possible on rooftops the majority will need to be delivered by ground-mounted projects.

“Due to a lack of investment in the electricity grid, there are a limited number of areas where projects can be developed so they can connect to the grid.”.