Date : 13 July 2026
Our ref: AM019/ TW
Dear Michael
Re: A sensible approach to solar and battery energy storage in Staffordshire
Thank you for your response to my previous correspondence shared via Sir Gavin Williamson MP regarding solar and battery storage in Staffordshire.
I am grateful for the clarity you provided on the Government’s position, and the National Land Use Framework is a step in the right direction towards the more coordinated approach we have been calling for.
As set out previously, Staffordshire County Council recognises the role that solar and wider renewable energy play in delivering energy security, and we will play our part in this national effort. However, we remain concerned about how delivery is currently taking place, particularly in rural areas, and the extent to which this aligns with the strategic intent described at a national level.
In your letter, you state that “Even in ambitious scenarios, we only expect up to 0.4% of total UK land, and up to 0.6% of total agricultural land” to be occupied by solar. While these national figures are helpful, it would be valuable to better understand how they are expected to translate in practice.
To support local planning and address growing community concern, we would welcome:
- An indicative breakdown of how expected solar land use will be distributed nationally, including at regional or local authority level
- Clarification on how significant concentrations of development align with the Government’s overall strategy
- Further detail on plans to expand grid capacity and connections to enable development in the most appropriate locations
- Assurance that rural communities will not bear a disproportionate share of solar development
What is happening in Drointon, a small rural community in Staffordshire, illustrates the challenges we are facing. There are currently two planning applications, one approved and one pending, which will cover around 80 per cent of the hamlet for the next 40 years. This has raised legitimate concerns among residents about fairness, cumulative impact and the absence of a clear spatial strategy, and whether delivery is being distributed fairly.
While this is a single case, it reflects a broader pattern of clustering in rural areas where grid access is easiest. This raises important questions about whether delivery is being distributed fairly and in line with national expectations. Without greater clarity, it is difficult to reconcile concentrations of this scale with the national figures you have set out.
A transition of this scale depends on ensuring that no single community or type of place bears a disproportionate burden. It must be underpinned by a principle of fair distribution, and failure to address this risks undermining public confidence. Greater transparency on distribution and decision-making would help demonstrate that delivery is both fair and consistent with national policy objectives.
Alongside this, I would welcome further detail on the steps being taken to modernise the energy system, particularly in relation to grid capacity and connections. A recurring concern is that site selection is often driven by ease and cost of grid connection, rather than by strategic land use considerations. This risks systematically directing development towards rural areas, where land is more readily available, rather than towards more appropriate previously developed sites.
We would therefore be interested in understanding how the Government plans to upgrade and expand grid infrastructure so that opportunities on brownfield sites, industrial estates, rooftops, car parks, and other previously developed land can be more fully realised.
I would like to reiterate that our position is not one of opposition to solar energy. We recognise its importance; however, it must be balanced with other critical priorities, particularly food security and the protection of productive agricultural land. It is essential that policy does not inadvertently place these priorities in competition with one another.
A genuinely strategic approach supported by clearer national guidance, improved infrastructure, and better coordination will be key to ensuring that delivery is effective, proportionate, and commands public confidence across all communities.
Given the level of detail and clarity we are requesting, officers at the County Council are available for a meeting with your officials to discuss the matter in more detail, should that be of interest.
Thank you again for your engagement on this important issue. Greater clarity will be essential in enabling local areas to plan effectively and maintain public trust.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Mynors
Cabinet Member for Connectivity