County Durham solar farm schemes questioned by Reform

Cross-party members at Durham County Council scrutinised the usage of solar energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) during a special committee meeting this week. 

Councillors were told of the Government’s target to generate ‘clean power’ and the regional need for new solar schemes by 2030. 

But a group of Reform councillors are not convinced. 

In July 2025, the Reform-led local authority voted to scrap the council’s climate emergency pledge, which aimed to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045 and ran alongside the current Climate Emergency Response Plan.

David Walton, Reform member for Stanley, told the committee: “I reject the pseudoscience behind climate change. The current drive to the unachievable goal of Net Zero is pointless.”

A previous plan to install solar panels on council-owned buildings was also removed.  Reform UK argued the local authority was spending too much money on Net Zero projects, and also pledged to stop buying electric vehicles for council workers.

Mark Rowney, Reform member for Murton, warned that his ward is being “corralled” by solar proposals. 

“I’m by no means a Luddite; I know how this is done, but I represent a ward wholly against BESS. The explosive power of these is enormous. People’s insurance is going to go through the roof. I worry about my residents.”

Council officials reassured members that fires inside BESS are highly unlikely. 

Developers are continuously identifying land throughout County Durham for the development of new solar farms, but have faced opposition from Durham County Council’s planning committee, which has refused several proposals in recent years. 

To date, six solar farm planning applications, including two with BESS, have been refused; two were subsequently allowed on appeal, with inspectors determining that national climate change objectives outweighed localised landscape harm. 

Developments in Murton, Sheraton, and Hett have all been accepted despite initial council refusals. A public inquiry is planned for the proposed Burnhope/ Maiden Law development in March. Appeals are also anticipated for the Harehill and Newacres solar farm applications. 

Other councillors also suggested installing solar panels on rooftops and car parks instead of farmland. 

“The propensity of putting [solar panels] on greenfield land is absolute madness,” added Cllr Ian Catchpole, Reform member for Sedgefield. 

Alongside commercial solar developments, local groups are progressing renewable energy projects to generate funding for the community or cheaper energy. Weardale Renewables are looking to develop community-owned renewable energy with profits managed and distributed through a community benefit society. The group is seeking to develop a 600kWp solar array at Heights Quarry/Rose Hill Farm.

Mike Allum, the council’s strategy and delivery manager, said: “Solar is still the cheapest form of energy regeneration. Even in Northern England, they still produce a significant amount of energy. Developers look for sites where there is good access to connect to the grid.”