WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPOSAL?
The landowners and financial investors will be the winners…
Landowners can earn far more through leasing their land out as a solar “farm” than selling their assets. Agricultural land is selling around £8,800 per acre depending on the quality of the soil, but a landowner can earn a guaranteed income of up to £1,000 per acre, per year, for the whole lifetime of the development, without any initial outlay and the costs of farming the land. Another way that a landowner will benefit is if they decide to sell their freehold interests in the completed solar “farm”. Solar installations can increase the value of the land by up to three times.
The other people who will benefit from the proposed North Court Solar Farm are the developers, who will promote the cheapest solutions, and the investors behind the development, who often borrow money to fund the project. There is a complex network of organisations behind the project, from different sectors and based in various countries. Investors only lend money because they expect to earn a good return on their investment. As a result, ownership frequently changes hands.
Any change in ownership, either of the freehold land or of organisations behind the development of the solar “farm”, is likely to weaken or change the terms of the lease contract. This means that there is no guarantee that the land will be returned to agricultural use at the end of the life of the solar “farm”. In fact, there is an increasing trend for landowners to make applications for industrial solar farms, and once granted, then make further applications to develop the land on the basis that it is brownfield and no longer agricultural land. There is no guarantee that the land will be returned to agricultural use, whatever assurances the landowner or his agent provided. They can sell the land to someone who has different intentions and expertise to develop the land.
It won’t be the local economy or community…
There will be no cheap electricity, or free electric points, or solar panels for housing for people living close to the solar “farm”. All power generated will go straight into the National Grid which will mean that roads through the village and down Long Hill will be dug up whilst cables are laid to reach Pylons situated along the New Cut road.
Jobs will be lost as changes to the landscape will negatively impact on the hospitality and tourism industry, an important contributor to the local economy (see link). Many small businesses in the local area and further afield are built around walking the North Downs Way/Pilgrims Way, eating local produce and staying in local accommodation.
Visitors, tourists and the local community will no longer be able to enjoy a part of the beautiful countryside, which will have a negative impact on their mental and physical well being.
It won’t be the environment…
The biggest loser will be the environment. Although solar power may be viewed as ‘green’, the long term and wider effects may be less environmentally friendly. Taking a life cycle approach there will be negative impacts on the environment at every stage, from the manufacture, distribution, clearance of land, installation, maintenance, dismantlement and disposal of the panels as well as the return of land to agriculture at the end of life.