Shropshire Council considering selling smallholdings and setting up its own solar project
More than 20 Shropshire Council-owned smallholdings and 1,000 acres of land could be sold as part of the authority's cost-cutting measures.
The council has confirmed that it will begin consulting on the sale of 24 smallholdings within the next month.
Council leader Malcolm Pate said the sale would be considered as the authority "is not in the business of providing smallholdings for starter farmers".
He said that the authority could also consider following Telford & Wrekin Council's approach of looking to build its own solar farm to help raise funds.
The council's agricultural estate amounts to 1,014 acres, and 24 small holdings of between four and 90 acres.
If the sales go ahead then current tenants of the smallholdings would be given the chance to buy the land, along with their "direct descendants".
The council has said that the sales would provide an opportunity for people to keep their own home and continue farming.
Councillor Pate said: "As far as we are concerned this would just be a financial transaction where we might sell the smallholdings."
Steph Jackson, the council's head of commercial services, said: "We currently own an agricultural estate of 410 hectares (1,014 acres). The estate comprises of 24 holdings of between 4.31 acres and 90.01 acres.
"Sales to tenants, or direct descendants, will encourage families into home ownership, enable them to own their own farms and to continue farming, and to keep their home and farm in the family."
Currently the council receives about £160,000 a year in rent from the small holdings.
Councillor Pate said that the council has already been looking to harness solar power as a way of saving on its operating costs.
He said: "Telford & Wrekin has a very interesting experiment with a solar farm where after paying off the costs if will provide them with an income.
"We are already putting solar panels on the roof at Shirehall which will pay back their costs within five years and will reduce our running costs by about £30,000 a year."
The council has said all current tenants of the smallholdings are aware of the position.
