Devon CPRE rallies national support against ‘unneeded, unwanted and unsustainable’ megasolar farm near Holsworthy

Devon’s countryside campaigners have issued a nationwide call to action against what they describe as an “unneeded, unwanted and unsustainable” megasolar development planned for more than four square miles of farmland near Holsworthy.

Devon CPRE, the environmental charity, is urging people across the UK to sign and share an online petition opposing the vast Beacon Solar Farm proposal, a scheme it says threatens the region’s iconic landscape and productive farmland.

The proposed development, led by Galileo Empower, a Swiss-based company under the multinational Galileo Green Energy GmbH, could see around 2,700 acres of Devon farmland covered in solar panels. Devon CPRE argues that the project is unnecessary, citing National Energy System Operator (NESO) data showing renewable projects awaiting grid connection already total 760GW - more than three times the government’s Clean Power 2030 target of 150–225GW.

Devon CPRE chair Steve Crowther told a packed meeting of over 300 residents at Holsworthy Memorial Hall that the proposal represents a “market bubble” driven by international investors rather than local energy needs.

“The packed meeting and the number who have already signed show the beginnings of an amazing movement,” he said. “We know that as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project the Beacon Solar scheme is not going to be decided by the community through the district council, but by the Secretary of State. The one thing that moves Secretaries of State is public opinion – they don’t like very, very large numbers of voters becoming annoyed with them.”

He added:

“The developer behind Beacon Solar is part of a huge multinational that identifies, acquires and carries out early-stage development of renewable projects across Europe before selling them on. They are not focused on producing power for the people of Devon, but on making the most of a booming market. This is about the exploitation of the countryside, making the local environment poorer and overseas investors richer.”

The meeting, held appropriately on Halloween, reflected local fears over the potential “nightmare” impact on the landscape, food production, and tourism. Concerns were also raised about the loss of land capable of producing more than £1 million worth of food annually, the threat of compulsory land purchases, and the future disposal of solar panels once the site is decommissioned.

Among those pledging support for the campaign was Torridge and Tavistock MP Sir Geoffrey Cox KC, who vowed to assemble a specialist legal team to challenge the development.

Sir Geoffrey told residents he was “implacably opposed” to the loss of productive farmland for solar use:

“At a time of increasing global insecurity we will only be protected if we gear up our capacity to grow food – something we do best in this part of the world.”

He warned developers that they had “made a bad misjudgement” if they believed they could site such an “alien intrusion on Devon land” without local resistance.

Local campaigner Steve Boulton, who founded the group Stop Beacon Solar, also spoke at the meeting, while Jackie Copley, CPRE’s national campaigns lead, highlighted the growing trend of large-scale greenfield solar proposals as developers “dash for cash”.

CPRE says it supports solar expansion, but through rooftop and brownfield projects rather than large countryside installations. The charity argues rooftop solar alone could exceed the government’s Net Zero 2050 targets without damaging rural landscapes.

If approved, the Beacon Solar scheme would include 1.8 million solar panels, extensive security fencing and CCTV, a new substation, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The developer is expected to submit a formal application in 2027.

Devon CPRE hopes to gather one million signatures against the scheme, with nearly 2,000 people across the UK already signing the petition within two weeks of its launch. Donations to the charity’s fighting fund have also begun to flow in.

Supporters can sign the petition and find more information at www.devoncpre.org.uk.