The Countryside Alliance recognises the importance of a resilient, modern
electricity network but insists that the transition to net zero must not come at the
expense of the rural environment or the wellbeing of its communities.
Accepting that the drive to net zero involves costs as well as benefits, rural Britain
must not be required to bear burdens that are impractical and disproportionate.
Other important objectives, principally food security, must not be sacrificed.
Responding to a consultation by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) on
its proposed Electricity Transmission Design Principles (ETDP), the Countryside
Alliance has called for clearer safeguards for rural communities, landscapes and
local economies as the UK expands its electricity grid.
The Countryside Alliance also responded to the government consultation on the
National Policy Framework in September 2024 calling for a “rooftop-first” approach
to solar installations. We argued that solar panels should be placed on the rooftops
of new homes, commercial buildings, and car parks before using farmland or
greenfield sites. This would protect valuable agricultural land and natural spaces
while maximising the use of existing infrastructure.
For the government’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030
to be feasible, it must be made possible for rural areas to participate. This will
require an adequate network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and a robust
enough electricity distribution grid infrastructure to support the additional demand.
Similarly, any future proposal for road pricing must be structured in a manner fair
to rural communities and their transport needs.
Other government priorities, including the drive towards net zero carbon emissions,
can only be sustained as long as there is food on the shelves. The interests of food
security require that food production must continue to be the primary use for
productive farmland.