Farming fury as landowners linked to Jacob Rees-Mogg's wife want them to make way solar panels

A family may lose their farm and home after a trust linked to the wife of Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg tries to make way for solar panels, it has emerged.

The trust, which reportedly lists Helena Rees-Mogg as director, wants to convert at least 130 acres of land in Malton, Yorkshire into a solar farm.

Rob Sturdy, whose family has lived on Eden Farm since 1954, told The Times that the proposal would allow solar panel company Harmony Energy to use 110 acres of his 240-acre farm for the project.

The company is expected to pay landowners £800 to £1,200 per acre each year for utilising the land, but Mr Sturdy, 51, claims the offer is 'nowhere near enough' and would make his farm 'financially unviable.'

The farmer, whose farmland tenancy agreement has been passed down through three generations, slammed the proposal for 'putting profits before people.'

He told the newspaper that if he lost nearly half of his land, he 'wouldn’t be able to afford to keep the farm going.'

'We were absolutely stunned when they told us they wanted to turn us off the land. They showed us a map and it was horrifying,' Mr Sturdy said, noting how the documents brought his wife to tears.

The farmer argued that his land was rated for having high-quality soil and believes the project should be developed on sites that aren't as good for crop growth.

He also claims that 60 per cent of the farmland earmarked in the proposal fell under the 'best and most versatile' (BMV) designation.

Planning guidance allegedly advises against developing on BMV land.

Harmony energy reportedly chose the land because it 'has sufficient capacity to allow the solar farm to connect.'

Meanwhile, the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation has seemingly disputed Mr Sturdy's allegations that the project would make his farm unprofitable.

The trust told The Times that the farmer was offered 'an index-linked annual income, above and beyond statutory compensation' that it believes would provide him with the 'financial security' necessary to continue 'farming a smaller area for the foreseeable future.'

A trust spokesperson further claimed that officials recognise how the development will impact tenants and is committed to helping them 'adapt their farming business for the future.'

It is unclear if the solar panel scheme will be granted permission or - if accepted - when the project would begin development.

MailOnline has approached Harmony Energy, a representative for Mr Rees-Mogg and the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation for comment.