According to NESO’s Clean Power 2030 targets, our region — South England — needs only:
And that’s all that’s required between now and 2035.
But here’s the problem:
Right now, this region already has:
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3,710 MW of solar projects in the queue — that’s 18.6 times more than needed
-
2,960 MW of battery storage — nearly 30 times over the target
So if we’re already massively over the limit, why are developers still pushing new schemes?
Because there’s a loophole. NESO is reforming how energy projects get grid connections. Under its “Gate 2” system, projects that already have planning permission get a better chance of staying in the queue — even if they aren’t needed for years, or ever.
In other words, developers are chasing planning approval not because these projects are essential, but because it helps them jump the queue — and secure land, profit, and investor confidence, regardless of local impact.
It’s a speculative land grab dressed up as climate action.
Take the proposed solar farm near Monk Sherborne. It would cover hundreds of acres of high-quality farmland, impact wildlife and heritage sites, and lock up land that’s currently used for food production — all for a project that may never connect to the grid and definitely isn’t needed for at least 15 to 20 years.
We’re being asked to accept permanent damage to our rural communities for temporary commercial gain. Our countryside, our villages, and our ability to produce food are being treated as collateral damage in a system that’s already oversubscribed.
Make no mistake — the climate emergency is real. Renewable energy is absolutely vital. But this isn’t responsible green planning — this is opportunism. It’s development that isn’t needed now, and may never be used.
What we need is a smarter, fairer approach — one that protects good land, respects local communities, and only builds where there’s a clear and timely need.
Until then, we must stand up and say:
- No more unnecessary solar and battery farms
- Yes to energy in the right places, at the right time
Cllr Simon Minas-Bound
Sherborne St John and Rooksdown ward
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