Recommendation 44

We are concerned that a lack of clear guidance is leading to unnecessary arguments about food security taking up disproportionate time and resources during examinations. We are concerned that the current guidance on agricultural land classification and land type for solar farms, in paragraphs 2.10.20 to 2.10.26 of EN-3, is ambiguous, equivocal and seemingly contradictory, particularly in relation to development on BMV agricultural land. There is a compelling need for the National Policy Statements to contain an unequivocal and evidence-based statement of policy in relation to this issue, including the circumstances where BMV agricultural land should or should not be available for development. (Conclusion, Paragraph 107)