Ed Miliband has given the green light to plans to build huge new renewable energy projects on agricultural land across the UK. The news has been met with fury by countryside campaigners, warning of damage to landscapes and important farmland.

Among the new plans approved by the Energy Secretary are new solar farms that could cover an area of farmland reportedly almost the size of Manchester. A record amount of solar power is to be generated through the new projects. Hailing the move, Mr Miliband said: “By backing solar and onshore wind at scale, we’re driving bills down for good and protecting families, businesses, and our country from the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates and dictators.

“This is how we take back control of our energy and deliver a new era of energy abundance and independence.”

The announcement was welcomed by energy firms but criticised by the Conservatives and countryside activists.

Mr Miliband on Tuesday handed subsidies to 134 new solar farms across England, as well as 23 in Wales and Scotland, according to The Telegraph, while plans for 28 large wind farms were also approved by Labour’s Net Zero champion.

Speaking to the newspaper, Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho warned the subsidies will only make electricity “even more expensive” for consumers.

Rosie Pearson, who chairs the Community Planning Alliance, also told The Telegraph: “This represents further destruction of countryside and best farmland while warehouse roofs, car parks and houses sit empty of solar panels.

“Add that to the pylons that accompany the solar farms and rural areas are being industrialised. We see once again that food security, nature and landscapes do not matter to Miliband.”

However, James Robottom, from wind industry trade body Renewable UK, defended the announcement, saying new offshore wind projects will “shield consumers from volatile global gas prices” and generate clean energy at a consistent price as “one of the UK’s cheapest forms of new power”.

This was echoed by trade group Solar Energy UK’s chief executive Chris Hewett who said it is a “milestone for the solar sector”.