The developers of an enormous solar farm across sites in Doncaster and Rotherham have “cut corners” during their consultation with residents, the former defence secretary John Healey MP has said.

Whitestone Solar farm should have held three separate consultations for each of the three sites in its proposals, the Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP claimed.

He said: “It seems quite clear to me that they have done this to cut costs and lump what should be three different consultations in three different areas together where the areas are different, the questions are different and the details are different.

“They have cut corners and I think failed to meet the requirements the legislation sets out for standards of consultation.”

Available for use by all partners. Image courtesy of Office of John Healey MP.

placeholder image — Available for use by all partners. Image courtesy of Office of John Healey MP.

A spokesperson for Whitestone Solar Farm said: “Whitestone includes land in three areas which would all connect together through underground cables into the National Grid at the new substation on Long Lane.

“Because there is a single connection point into the grid, the three parts of the project could not operate independently, and must be considered a single development for planning purposes.”

They added: “We have fulfilled all of the requirements for consultation and gone above and beyond to provide meaningful opportunities to engage with local communities that have led to significant changes to the project.”

Whitestone One, the first of three sites outlined in the solar farm plans, is in Conisbrough, Doncaster, which falls in Healey’s constituency.

Whitestone Two and Three are both found in Rotherham in other parliamentary constituencies represented by Sarah Champion MP and Jake Richards MP.

In one of his first interviews since quitting as Sir Keir Starmer’s defence secretary in June 2026, Mr Healey said the proposals cover three “different areas with no geographical connection”.

He added: “My basic take on this is that the scale of the scheme is outsized for the area. The information they have provided to residents is incomplete and that the scheme as it has stood is outsized and out of place.

“Most recently, I have asked the chief planning inspector to review the consultation that Whitestone have run because they have run one, single consultation for three separate schemes, each of which is large enough in its own right to qualify as a nationally significant infrastructure project in its own way.”

At current, all three Whitestone sites are deemed to be one nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), which means it is a major project requiring sign-off from a government minister, rather than a local authority.

Along with other South Yorkshire MPs and local councillors, Mr Healey has long been pushing for more scrutiny of the plans.

He said: “I’ve been involved in this from the very start. I have been questioning, challenging the company from the very start and listening to residents from the very start.”

The long-serving parliamentarian said the village of Firsby has been “overlooked by the Whitestone consultation” and he’s been constantly pushing for Whitestone to provide “more information” than they have been willing to.

A spokesperson for Whitestone said: “Due to its size, it is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, which means that we must apply for a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008. Developers do not choose which planning regime to use, and we must follow the laws and associated regulations and guidance that apply.

“The project has now moved on to the pre-examination stage. This means that local residents and stakeholders will have the opportunity to have their say on the project through the upcoming examination process.”