Across Devon, proposals for large-scale solar farms on high-quality agricultural land are putting farmers, rural communities, and local economies at risk. While we support renewable energy, industrial solar farms on productive farmland threaten food security, heritage, wildlife, and the character of our villages.
Schemes like the 147-acre proposal at Escot Park Estate in Talaton show the dangers: loss of food-producing land, disruption on narrow lanes, and lasting harm to the countryside. Devon is a strategic food-producing region, and taking high-grade farmland out of production for decades is simply the wrong approach.
Energy infrastructure should be built responsibly, on rooftops, brownfield sites, car parks, and industrial land, not at the expense of working farms that sustain our communities.
Sign our petition to urge East Devon District Council and planners across Devon to protect farmers, safeguard food production, and reject proposals for industrial solar farms on prime agricultural land.