The New Ash Green solar project would have a huge impact on our community. The size of the proposal would fundamentally change the character of the area around Hartley, Ridley, New Ash Green, Ash, and Hodsoll Street. I have been closely monitoring Evolution Power’s proposals and am deeply concerned about their project.
Many people have been in touch over recent weeks as we all try and assess why these proposals have been brought forward. These concerns are entirely understandable, and I am aware of the strength of feeling in our local community.
Evolution Power have applied for planning permission from Sevenoaks District Council under the reference 24/03422/FUL.
I heard from Dr Pav Ramewal, Chief Executive at Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), following my letters to SDC about the proposals, which you can see here. As you can see, SDC have been progressing with the application, albeit I note that the application has become invalid temporarily.
Over the past months, I have met with the organisers of the ‘No NAGS’ campaign and visited the proposed location for this site. The No NAGs Facebook page is available here, where updates on the work they are doing to continue to oppose this project can be found.
One of the challenges we face is that solar farms are being promoted nationally by some parties. Indeed, the Green Party sees them as part of their ‘green economic transformation’ in their national energy policy. Tonbridge Green Party are explicitly in support, as you can see here. Their stance is dangerous for our community.
I also saw that the new Reform UK Kent County Councillor for our area, Maxine Fothergill, had recently visited the site with the new Reform UK Cabinet Member for Environment, David Wimble. To date, Kent County Council have not objected to the development plans. I trust that they will, and have written to Mr Wimble to urge the Council to reconsider their stance on this matter. You can see my letter here.
Recently, I joined other MPs in proposing an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in Parliament. Our amendment aimed to prohibit the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) on high-quality agricultural land- specifically, land classified as Grade 1, 2, or 3a. This restriction would have applied to the site of the proposed Evolution Power solar farm, meaning that their plans could not have gone ahead.
I am disappointed that Clause 39, which contained this amendment, was rejected in Parliament. All Green and Labour MPs voted against the Conservative amendment to protect important agricultural land, while the Liberal Democrats did not participate in the vote. This amendment would have provided lasting protection for our valuable countryside.
Please share your thoughts on Evolution Power’s proposals
Not only are there valid questions about the suitability of using the land in the greenbelt, some of which is currently used for essential agricultural purposes, but there are significant concerns that remain unanswered about the potential supply chain for the project.
I am deeply concerned that this proposal would install solar panels manufactured through unethical supply chains, with 80% of the world’s supply coming from China, where forced labour in regions like Xinjiang remains a serious issue. This project is being driven by relaxed Greenbelt protections and a push for green energy at any cost, regardless of the consequences. Our pursuit of net-zero emissions must not come at the expense of fundamental human rights or long term energy security. While I support the transition to net-zero, relying on solar alone is neither reliable nor sustainable—it suffers from generation variability, high costs, and a significant carbon trade-off in production. The UK must take a responsible approach to energy policy, ensuring that our shift to renewables upholds ethical standards and truly strengthens our energy future.
For many years, I have been vocal about human rights abuses in China, including those in the Xinjiang province. The Chinese Communist Party have now banned me from entering the country due to my continued scrutiny of their violation of human rights and the impact this has on all of us. I will continue to speak about these issues because many solar panels are currently being manufactured in China, and therefore are closely intertwined with forced labour. Over the last few weeks, I have consistently raised these questions with Evolution Power, to try and gain clarity over their manufacturing and sourcing processes. I have written to Evolution Power to raise these concerns on 29 November 2024, 16 December 2024, 23 January 2025, and 8 April 2025.
You can see my most recent letter here, which Evolution Power have still not responded to. You can also see a copy of my letter of 23 January 2025 here.
We have an applicant, Evolution Power, who cannot confirm that these panels are not produced by Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China under a system of coercion and forced labour. That’s morally wrong. I trust you will agree with me that inadequate responses to these concerns are unsatisfactory.
Consequently, I have had no choice but to ask the Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, to use her powers under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ‘call-in’ the application, given that a solar farm build in this way at New Ash Green and Ridley is now of local, national and international importance. I have attached a copy of my letter here, and I will let you all know as soon as I receive a response.
I will continue to do everything I can to protect and enhance our wonderful community. Please let me know if you have any further questions, and please do ask your neighbours to be in touch with me if they too are concerned about the project.