650 Acres of Best Farmland Lost to Solar Development Despite Government Policy

Press Release
28^th August 2025 

650 Acres of Best Farmland Lost to Solar Development Despite Government Policy

CPRW, the Welsh countryside charity, is very disappointed to see that the Cabinet Secretary has approved the proposal to develop a large-scale solar farm over 650 acres of good agricultural land on Ynys Môn.

Local residents have long made their opposition to this development known, because of its damaging impact on our landscapes and agricultural and tourism sectors on the island, while offering little in terms of jobs or economic benefit.

It is frustrating that the Welsh Government has ignored these concerns and pushed ahead, despite the proposal explicitly contradicting the Welsh Government’s own policy of protecting Best and Most Versatile Land.

This is not about opposing solar energy – which has an important role to play in the future energy mix. It is about protecting our rural communities from exploitation by commercial developers, preventing the loss of vast swathes of valuable farmland when better, more innovative alternatives exist, and putting into practice the Government’s policies to protect the countryside.

Dr Jonathan Dean, CPRW Trustee, said: “I am at a loss as to why the Government bothers having policies at all when they are so eager to run roughshod over them. They allow wind farms to be developed on peatlands, against their own policies; Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru will install overhead electricity lines, against their own policies; and solar development on Best and Most Versatile farmland, against their own policies.”

“The Cabinet Secretary is using a ‘scorched earth’ approach to reaching net zero, approving any and everything that crosses her desk, wilfully ignoring the very policies her government put in place to prevent inappropriate development. This is not a just transition.”

“The planning inspector clearly missed the point that there are multiple other solar proposals not on Best and Most Versatile farmland. So many, in fact, that the grid cannot connect them all for over a decade. If ever a reason had to be found to protect this land, this is it.”

Notes to editors

• CPRW (Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales) is the Welsh countryside charity, established in 1928 to protect the landscapes, environment, and rural communities of Wales.
• The Welsh Government’s Planning Policy Wales (PPW) and associated guidance recognises the importance of protecting Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land (Grades 1, 2 and 3a) from inappropriate development.
• The approved Ynys Môn development will cover approximately 650 acres of BMV farmland with solar panels, despite long-standing local opposition and availability of alternative sites.
• CPRW supports the transition to renewable energy but advocates for responsible siting of developments that do not sacrifice high-quality farmland or undermine rural livelihoods.
• For further comment or interviews, please contact: Caroline Conway, 07731567488, caroline@cprw.org.uk