Solar developer wants to lease 15 acres of my farm

Access rights are especially important on farms. Developers often require permanent access roads for construction and maintenance. If these routes pass through working farmland, they can interfere with livestock movement, machinery access, and daily operations. It is essential that access is carefully defined and limited to what is strictly necessary.

Another key consideration is future succession. Even where the folio is in one person’s name, long-term leasing arrangements can significantly affect the ability of the next generation to farm the land effectively or use it as security for borrowing. A successor may inherit land subject to a lease they did not agree to and cannot terminate.

The impact on entitlements and schemes should also be examined. Depending on the structure of the arrangement, participation in agricultural support schemes may be affected. This can have knock-on consequences for the overall viability of the remaining farm.

Decommissioning is another critical issue. At the end of the project, the developer should be legally obliged to remove all equipment and reinstate the land to an agreed standard. Without strong contractual protections, the cost and responsibility for reinstatement could fall back on the landowner or their estate.

Tax implications must also be addressed. Lease income is treated differently to farming income, and this can affect income tax planning and reliefs associated with the transfer of agricultural land. Independent tax advice should be obtained alongside legal advice.