Farmers claim eviction threat from solar farm

A number of tenant farmers in East Yorkshire say they could be facing eviction to make way for a large solar farm.

The BBC has been told that at least eight farms that lease land from The Dalton Estate, north of Beverley, had been notified of the proposals.

Farmers said the solar project could cover at least 4 sq miles (10.3 sq km) and would be a "bombshell" to families who had farmed in the area for generations.

The Dalton Estate confirmed it has been approached by a renewable energy company but an "exploration exercise is at a very early stage".

One farmer, who did not wish to be identified, said the plans had caused anxiety and upset and could affect 16 farms, half of which are tenant businesses.

He said: "Aside from destroying everything farmers have worked for, the loss of livelihood, our children's future etc, there will be a massive loss of biodiversity should this plan go ahead so that the Dalton Estate can make more money."

Jeremy Wilcock, an East Riding councillor, said the solar farm site could cover 3000 acres (1214 hectares) on land east of the A164 Aike/Lockington crossroads from Scorborough to Watton.

He said: "Our farmers have had a hard enough time with the loss of EU subsidies, the inflated cost of fuel, feed and fertiliser, the reluctance of supermarkets to pay them a fair price, new government taxes and the increasingly unpredictable weather.

"They do not need this additional anxiety."

George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, said his organisation had seen a "significant uptick" in calls from tenant farmers worried about solar farm development.

He said: "In some respects the decisions that have been announced in the government's budget in October are leading some estates to consider whether there are more lucrative uses for their land."

Mr Dunn added some landowners were turning to solar in order to "build a war chest" for whatever inheritance tax they would have to pay.

Private landowners living near to the Dalton Estate told the BBC they had already been approached and offered "generous amounts" to sell their farms. One landowner described the financial offer as a "no-brainer given the state of our industry".

The same farmer also said the more private landowners who agreed to sell up the more likely the project would go ahead and displace neighbouring tenant farmers. He said he felt conflicted.

Tenant farmers said they had been assured of compensation for the loss of their businesses.

"Tenants would be given a year's notice. Compensation is understood to be six years' rent," a spokesperson said.

Should the solar farm go ahead, farmers would also be losing their way of life. One tenant told the BBC that one of his children was hoping to take over the farm and for his family the solar proposal was a disaster.

A spokesperson for the Dalton Estate said: “The estate has been involved with renewable projects since 2010 and has recently been approached by a renewable energy company.

"The estate is allowing some preliminary survey work to be undertaken. This is an exploration exercise that is at a very early stage.

"There is no firm proposal for the area that the developer might be interested in and no formal agreement has been entered into. While we understand it is unsettling for everyone, it is important that any requirement for land is clarified as soon as possible.”

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