Reform UK and Greens Unite Against Vast Solar Plans for Kent Marshland
The unlikely alliance opposes proposals that could place panels across more than 5,000 acres of Romney Marsh farmland, although ministers will decide the nationally significant projects.
Reform UK and the Green Party have found rare common ground in Kent, joining local opposition to plans that could cover more than 5,000 acres of Romney Marsh with solar panels and associated energy infrastructure.
The proposed developments — South Brooks Solar Farm, South Kent Energy Park and Shepway Energy Park — would occupy about 10% of the marshland if built at their proposed scale.
Together, they are intended to generate and store renewable electricity for more than 200,000 homes, using land close to grid infrastructure left by the decommissioning of nearby nuclear power stations.
Romney Marsh, on the south Kent coast, is one of England’s most distinctive agricultural landscapes: flat, low-lying and intersected by drainage channels, with farmland, wetlands, wildlife habitats and coastal settlements sharing the same confined geography.
Its open terrain and comparatively high sunshine levels make it attractive for solar generation, but those same qualities have sharpened concern about the cumulative effect of several large schemes in one area.
Local Green and Reform representatives argue that productive farmland should not be converted into industrial-scale solar sites.
Their preferred alternative is greater use of rooftops, car parks, brownfield land and smaller installations.
Farmers and campaign groups have also raised concerns over food production, drainage, flood risk, biodiversity and the landscape’s character.
The agreement is striking because the parties approach national energy policy from sharply different positions.
The Green Party supports a rapid expansion of renewable energy to cut emissions, while Reform UK is broadly hostile to the government’s net-zero programme and has campaigned against large wind and solar projects.
In Romney Marsh, however, both sides say location and scale are the decisive issues.
Supporters of the projects say large solar farms will be needed if Britain is to expand domestic clean power, reduce exposure to volatile imported energy and meet its electricity targets.
South Kent Energy Park alone is proposed as a solar and storage project capable of generating enough electricity for more than 140,000 homes a year.
The projects are large enough to fall within the national infrastructure planning system, limiting the power of local councils to make the final decision.
Local authorities and communities can submit evidence and objections, but ministers will ultimately determine whether development consent is granted.
The clash has therefore become a test of how the government balances clean-energy expansion against local land use, agricultural concerns and public acceptance.
The developers’ consultation and planning processes will now determine the evidence placed before ministers when the schemes reach formal decision stage.
The proposed developments — South Brooks Solar Farm, South Kent Energy Park and Shepway Energy Park — would occupy about 10% of the marshland if built at their proposed scale.
Together, they are intended to generate and store renewable electricity for more than 200,000 homes, using land close to grid infrastructure left by the decommissioning of nearby nuclear power stations.
Romney Marsh, on the south Kent coast, is one of England’s most distinctive agricultural landscapes: flat, low-lying and intersected by drainage channels, with farmland, wetlands, wildlife habitats and coastal settlements sharing the same confined geography.
Its open terrain and comparatively high sunshine levels make it attractive for solar generation, but those same qualities have sharpened concern about the cumulative effect of several large schemes in one area.
Local Green and Reform representatives argue that productive farmland should not be converted into industrial-scale solar sites.
Their preferred alternative is greater use of rooftops, car parks, brownfield land and smaller installations.
Farmers and campaign groups have also raised concerns over food production, drainage, flood risk, biodiversity and the landscape’s character.
The agreement is striking because the parties approach national energy policy from sharply different positions.
The Green Party supports a rapid expansion of renewable energy to cut emissions, while Reform UK is broadly hostile to the government’s net-zero programme and has campaigned against large wind and solar projects.
In Romney Marsh, however, both sides say location and scale are the decisive issues.
Supporters of the projects say large solar farms will be needed if Britain is to expand domestic clean power, reduce exposure to volatile imported energy and meet its electricity targets.
South Kent Energy Park alone is proposed as a solar and storage project capable of generating enough electricity for more than 140,000 homes a year.
The projects are large enough to fall within the national infrastructure planning system, limiting the power of local councils to make the final decision.
Local authorities and communities can submit evidence and objections, but ministers will ultimately determine whether development consent is granted.
The clash has therefore become a test of how the government balances clean-energy expansion against local land use, agricultural concerns and public acceptance.
The developers’ consultation and planning processes will now determine the evidence placed before ministers when the schemes reach formal decision stage.
