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There are fears as a massive 2,800-acre Oxfordshire solar farm is proposed that would be close to the size of Heathrow Airport.
Multiple local councillors have spoken out about Cearn Solar Farm, a new project that would cover land south of Garford, east of Charney Bassett, north of West Hanney, south of Goosey and north east of Baulking.
Ron Batstone said he is “worried” about the impact of the project, while Jill Rayner and James Plumb both said that it was vital residents’ views are heard.
The solar project would cover a greater amount of Oxfordshire’s land than Botley West’s 2,471 acres of solar panels.
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It would dwarf Gatwick Airport and be only about 200 acres smaller than Heathrow, one of the busiest in the world, while having a grid connection offer of up to 500 megawatts, enough to power the equivalent of up to 143,000 homes annually.
Electricity would be exported via underground cables to National Grid’s proposed Farmoor substation, roughly 12 km north‑east of the site.
Ron Batstone (Image: VOWH)
Mr Batstone, who is the county councillor for Grove and the district councillor for Grove North, said that because it is a national project, it will be the Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh who will make the decision not the local authority.
However, he stressed that he would be involved in the consultation.
“I am worried about the effect,” the Liberal Democrat added, “of such a large project on the landscape and local villages”.
District councillor for Kingston Bagpuize Jill Rayner said her primary concern would be on ensuring residents views are heard.
She said: “This project is huge and will naturally have a massive impact on our landscape environment.
Councillor Jill Rayner (Image: VOWDC)
She added: “Renewable energy must not come at the expense of our local communities, and I urge all residents to attend the upcoming workshops this autumn to get their views on record. It’s so important.”
Conservative county councillor for Marcham & Cumnor James Plumb said that he intends to engage constructively with the project team to ensure residents voices are “at the forefront of discussions”.
In addition, he said that the residents in his ward are already dealing with another major infrastructure project, the proposed Abingdon reservoir which would cover at least 2.6 square miles.
James Plumb (Image: Albert Tait)
He said: “Residents in my division are already grappling with proposals for significant development in the local area, including the proposed South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) to the south of Marcham, so it’s understandable that news of a new, large-scale solar farm will only add to these concerns.
“Whilst I support the need for investment in renewable energy sources, my instinct has always been that solar panels are better placed on rooftops and buildings, not in our fields and open countryside.”
No planning application has been submitted yet with the first stakeholder workshops due in September and October, followed by public consultation in early 2027.
Heathrow (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA)
And a website has also been set up by Cearn Solar Farm Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telis Energy UK.
Arguing its case, the company said the move towards renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels is “both an environmental and economic necessity”.
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It added: “Despite significant growth, solar farms cover less than 0.1 per cent of UK land today.
“A Lancaster University study found that even meeting future solar and decarbonisation goals would require just 0.22-0.39 per cent of the UK’s total land area.
“Meeting these targets for affordable, homegrown renewable electricity will depend on projects like Cearn Solar Farm being delivered across the country.”
This is the latest in a number of high-profile applications for solar farms in Oxfordshire, including Botley West which is about 300 acres smaller than Cearn.
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