²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Tenant farmers lose bid to stop solar farm from being built on agricultural land

Emma and Rob Sturdy said they were devastated after Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook granted permission for solar infrastructure to be built at Eden Farm in North Yorkshire, despite noting how the project could result in ‘irreversible detriment' to Eden Farm as an agricultural business entity

Chris Brayford
clock • 6 min read
The Sturdy family have been left 'devastated and shell shocked' after the Government approved plans for Harmony Energy to build solar farm infrastructure on their 110 hectare farm. Emma Sturdy said: "It feels like the Government is taking a huge swipe at successful farming businesses and making them unviable because they prioritise solar over agriculture at all costs."
Image:

The Sturdy family have been left 'devastated and shell shocked' after the Government approved plans for Harmony Energy to build solar farm infrastructure on their 110 hectare farm. Emma Sturdy said: "It feels like the Government is taking a huge swipe at successful farming businesses and making them unviable because they prioritise solar over agriculture at all costs."

North Yorkshire tenant farmers have been left ‘shell shocked' after the Government granted permission for a solar farm to be built on their 110 hectare farm. Emma and Rob Sturdy, from Eden Farm in Old...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

 

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

£±Ê°¿´¡

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

£±Ê°¿´¡

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

£±Ê°¿´¡

More on Tenancy

Tenant farmers dealt devastating blow after High Court rejects appeal to save farmland from solar takeover

Tenant farmers dealt devastating blow after High Court rejects appeal to save farmland from solar takeover

Emma and Rob Sturdy said they must now accept that 110 acres (44 hectares) of farmland will be taken from them to make way for solar infrastructure

clock 06 September 2025 • 4 min read
County Farms Estate enables Staffordshire tenants to grow their dairy enterprise

County Farms Estate enables Staffordshire tenants to grow their dairy enterprise

Tenant farmers Rachel and Richard Moss said farming at Staffordshire County Council's Farm Estate is a family affair

clock 28 May 2025 • 5 min read
OPINION: "What protection will tenant farmers have?"

OPINION: "What protection will tenant farmers have?"

Chief reporter Rachael Brown questions what is being done to protect the agricultural tenanted sector to ensure it thrives, for both tenants and landlords going forward

Rachael Brown
clock 02 May 2025 • 1 min read