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Botley West campaigners are ‘delighted’ after a controversial 2,000-acre solar farm was refused with the developer behind the scheme now assessing its options.
The chair of the Stop Botley West Group has spoken out after an application by Photovolt for a massive solar farm – that would have been Europe’s largest – was rejected.
Professor Alex Rogers said: “We are delighted that the secretary of state has agreed with the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation to refuse to grant the Botley West development consent order.”
READ MORE: Government announces decision on controversial £800m solar farm Botley West
He added: “Despite a three-year application process, the developer missed a number of critical evidential milestones.”
According to the group this included around harm to green areas and biodiversity, as well as loss of rural space, with several of these criticisms cited in the 118-page letter released on Tuesday, November 10, explaining the decision.
In addition the government acknowledged concerns relating to aviation safety in respect of London Oxford Airport and harm to heritage sites such as Blenheim Palace.
CPRE Oxfordshire and Stop Botley West campaigners protest at Dornford Lane (Image: Ed Nix)
Professor Rogers added: “We thank the secretary of state for taking full account of these critical factors that confirm that the planned development is not appropriate for the proposed site.”
Meanwhile, the developers behind the £800 million project have said they are “extremely disappointed” and are looking at next steps.
The Botley West scheme would have covered 2,471 acres in Oxfordshire, including areas north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of Botley.
Photovolt director, Mark Owen-Lloyd, had called its submission “robust” (Image: PVDP)
Proposals indicated it would generate 840 megawatts, or 840 million watts, with the capacity to power approximately 330,000 homes.
A Photovolt spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed and surprised by the decision to refuse consent for Botley West Solar Farm.
“We continue to believe that there is a compelling case for Botley West, based on the project’s merits and its potential to deliver significant benefits for Oxfordshire, while contributing to the UK’s energy security and clean energy ambitions.
Charlie Maynard MP welcomed the decision (Image: Supplied)
“We will now carefully consider the reasons for the decision and assess all available options before determining our next steps.”
Photovolt may appeal the decision through a judicial review but it must be made within the next six weeks.
The developer was supported by trade association Solar Energy UK with Chris Hewett, chief executive, calling it a “regrettable decision”.
Calum Miller MP was pleased with the decision (Image: Contributed)
He said: “We all know the desperate need for cheaper power and to push expensive gas off the grid – and that’s exactly what solar farms deliver.”
Local politicians also reacted to the news with most speaking out in favour of the decision.
MP for Witney Charlie Maynard said: “The developer has clearly taken insufficient account of local concerns and believed that they could steamroller this through.
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“It’s now clear that they can’t and that is a win for everyone who wants renewable energy and wants it to reflect the wishes of local residents.”
His Lib Dem colleague Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock whose constituency included much of the proposed site, added: “We need to make the move to more renewable power, but proposals need to be developed with communities.
“That was absent in this proposal and central to my opposition.”
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