An action group in Doncaster has spoken out after plans for a two mile wide solar farm was granted permission.

The 536-hectare development near the villages of Fenwick, Moss, Topham and Sykehouse was granted development consent by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

Residents opposing the plans previously raised concerns about the impact on wildlife and loss of arable land.

Boom Power, the developer behind the multi-million pound scheme, said it hoped construction could start as soon as 2027 and the farm development would deliver enough carbon-free electricity to power 75,000 homes.

The 536-hectare development near the villages of Fenwick, Moss, Topham and Sykehouse.

placeholder image — The 536-hectare development near the villages of Fenwick, Moss, Topham and Sykehouse.

Janet Raynor from the Fenwick Solar Farm Action Group said: “Another very sad day for our village, our countryside, and our residents following the approval of the Fenwick Solar Project. This is not only a loss for Fenwick, but for the whole country — and for the many communities that have already suffered the same fate, with many more likely to follow.

“Our battle, like so many others, may be lost. But the wider fight continues, carried forward by countless people who refuse to accept the industrialisation of rural Britain.

“There is a persistent misconception that groups like ours are “anti‑solar.” We are not. We object to the siting of vast industrial solar installations on productive agricultural land — land that shapes our countryside, supports wildlife, and surrounds our homes. These developments blight landscapes, disrupt communities, and carry long-term environmental and ecological consequences.”

She continued: “Solar panel technology is already outdated. Other countries have moved on, yet Britain continues to push large-scale solar farms in the wrong places with the promise of lower bills, there as been no evidence provided by this government that bills will be reduced and in recent times, its thought bills will increase.

“Many areas where these sites are being planned are not connected to the grid nor have the infrastructure in place. The existing infrastructure is inadequate to deal with such a large expansion.

“This country has thousands of acres of industrial roofs — warehouses, public buildings, schools, churches, hospitals, leisure centres, government sites, Parliament, Chequers, car parks, and all new-build developments. These are the places that should be generating solar power, helping the businesses, supplying the grid, and reducing pressure on the countryside.

“This approach would also keep investment and jobs within the UK, supporting British companies and workers, along with social prescribing and the benefits to peoples mental and physical wellbeing as the royal family have found in the last year to be essential in their recovery.

“The response from our own MP, Ed Miliband, to our concerns and questions showed no empathy, no sympathy, and no real understanding.

“According to the minutes taken during our meeting with him, he stated — and I quote — that “he didn’t want to hear that we don’t want it here because it’s going to be bad for us”.

“As much as we are disappointed, to say the least, at the decision, we are currently discussing options with our legal adviser.

“Looking ahead to 2028, when the government will inevitably change, many of us see that moment as the last hope for protecting what remains of our rural landscape.”