The UK government has greenlit a record-breaking 157 new solar projects today, 10 February 2026, marking the largest-ever procurement of solar power in British history. While the move is hailed as a vital step toward energy independence, it has immediately reignited a fierce “battle for the fields” with rural campaigners.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed this morning that the latest renewables auction—known as Allocation Round 7 (AR7)—has secured 4.9 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity. This is enough to power the equivalent of nearly five million homes and brings the UK closer to its ambitious target of 45GW by 2030.
“Clean British power is the right choice for our country,” Miliband said. “By backing solar at scale, we are driving bills down for good and protecting families from the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates.”
The 157 successful projects are spread across England, Scotland, and Wales, representing a 50% increase in capacity compared to the previous year’s auction.
Mega-farms: The results include the West Burton solar farm in Nottinghamshire, a “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project” that will sit on the site of a former coal-fired power station.
Cost Efficiency: The government secured this new solar energy at a “strike price” of £65.23 per megawatt-hour—which officials claim is less than half the cost of building and operating new gas-fired plants.
Economic Boost: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) estimates the new wave of projects will unlock £5 billion in private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs.
Despite the economic and environmental arguments, the announcement has sparked a backlash from rural residents and conservation groups who fear the “mass industrialisation” of agricultural land.
Campaigners from groups such as the CPRE (The Countryside Charity) have voiced concerns that the rapid rollout is outpacing local planning scrutiny. In Devon, the Stop Beacon Solar campaign recently celebrated a temporary “pause” on a massive 2,700-acre project, citing the loss of high-quality farmland and the visual impact on heritage landscapes.
“We support renewable energy, but it cannot be at any cost,” said a spokesperson for a coalition of parish councils in the East Midlands. “These are massive, shimmering industrial arrays being dropped into ancient landscapes. Once that soil is compacted and the views are gone, you don’t get them back for 40 years.”

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