Fight brutal summer droughts by moving solar panels from green fields and floating them on reservoirs, say senior Tories demanding planning red tape cut

Senior Tories are backing calls for red tape to be cut to allow solar panels to cover UK water reservoirs instead of green fields.More than 20 MPs and peers, including three serving shadow ministers, have signed a letter calling for planning rules to be eased to allow construction of floating barrages on more than 570 man-made lakes.Currently water utilities enjoy Permitted Development Rights (PDR) that allow them to install floating solar without planning permission on reservoirs - but only if the electricity generated is for their own use on site.If the panels are to be connected to the National Grid commercially they must go through the full planning system, which takes time and money and could see them rejected.The MPs argue that the change would allow solar power generation to continue and grow but free up more land for food production, while also helping conservate water by reducing evaporation and preventing algae growth.Spelthorne MP Lincoln Jopp, whose Spelthorne constituency contains four reservoirs that provide half of London's drinking water, said: 'Given the intense heatwaves and droughts our country has faced recently, floating solar should be seen as a common-sense solution to bolstering our nation's energy, food, and water security. More than 20 MPs and peers have signed a letter calling for planning rules to be eased to allow construction of floating barrages (pictured: the Alqueva solar farm in Portugal) Low water levels are seen at Howden Reservoir in the Peak District, after sustained high temperatures and low rainfall in July Tory MP Lincoln Jopp said: 'Given the intense heatwaves and droughts our country has faced recently, floating solar should be seen as a common-sense solution to bolstering our nation's energy, food, and water security''However, the UK has been far too slow to roll out floating solar, especially compared to our European counterparts.'The two small changes we have set out would make a significant difference to rolling out this innovative technology. It is completely counterproductive that electricity generated by floating solar on reservoirs cannot be sold to the grid.Furthermore, it is nonsensical that we have not extended permitted development rights to floating solar projects on other man-made bodies of water - this would cut costs and construction time for a technology that can bring us water, food, and energy security.'For the sake of our nation's security and to remain competitive internationally, the Government should swiftly adopt these small but essential changes to expand and drive investment into the floating solar industry.'The signatories include shadow transport secretary Richard Holden, shadow farming minister Robbie Moore, shadow security minister Alicia Kearns and former environment secretary Baroness Coffey.They want PDR to be eased for reservoirs, as well as for smaller artificial lakes, disused quarries and docks. In their letter to Angel Rayner, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, they say: 'We recognise the importance of building more clean energy infrastructure, but to get it built, we must not sacrifice vital land that can be used for food production. 'Floating solar can help to strike the balance of delivering energy security alongside food security.'This innovative technology can also help to protect our supply of water, as the solar panels reduce evaporation by creating a barrier with the sun, not to mention preventing harmful algal blooms, which pose a risk to wildlife. 'Alongside delivering these benefits, floating solar has a far lower visual impact compared to many other energy developments, as most potential sites are already industrial in nature.'Earlier this year, Labour ministers backed a new report suggesting that floating barrages could provide enough power for a city the size of Birmingham by the end of the decade, and equal the current generation from all UK offshore wind by 2050.The report, produced for solar operator Bluefield by CBI Economics, suggests that with government support floating solar could cover 30 per cent of the UK's 65,000 hectares of water utility and other man-made water bodies - like disused quarries - by the middle of the century.