Planned solar farm in Oxfordshire scrapped as government rejects application

A controversial solar farm project in West Oxfordshire has been halted in a decision made by the Government today. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally refused development consent for the 840 MW Botley West Solar Farm project. Botley West Solar Farm would cover more than 3000 acres north and west of Oxford. Photovolt Development Partners - the company behind the scheme say it would provide enough energy for around 330,000 homes.

Those behind the project say it could have delivered 840 megawatts of clean, affordable power to the National Grid, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and improving UK energy security. It was also looking to connect to a new National Grid substation, to be built by National Grid near Farmoor reservoir, to the west of Botley. The solar farm would provide enough energy for 330,000 homes Credit: ITV Meridian The government gave a number of reasons why the project was rejected, including how over two-thirds (69%) of the project would have been built across the protected Oxfordshire Green Belt.

It was also deemed that the solar farm posed genuine dangers to life because panels were planned directly inside emergency landing zones at London Oxford Airport and trainee pilots rely on these if their engine fails just after takeoff. The government also found the bright solar glare could blind student pilots flying nearby circuits, rising heat waves from panels could destabilise aircraft, and the developer failed to sign a binding agreement to stop birds flocking to the site and causing bird strikes.

Concerns were also raised about covering up vital countryside with more than 300 hectares of the UK's highest-grade agricultural land covered in panels and lost to crop farming for around 40 years. In the Secretary of State's report, it said the Solar Farm 'failed to show why lower-quality land could not be used instead', and refused to guarantee that the soil would be restored to its original farming quality after the panels were dismantled.

Campaigners said the solar farm would impact the countryside and the site should be smaller Credit: ITV Meridian The group Campaign to Protect Rural England praised the government's decision, saying they were hopeful for the countryside in Oxfordshire and beyond. Their chief executive, Roger Mortlock, said: "Botley West would have sprawled across an area the size of 2,000 football pitches, much of it Green Belt or high-quality farmland.

"It would have destroyed beautiful landscapes, damaged the setting of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and displaced local farmers. "The government has recognised that climate action need not mean sacrificing irreplaceable green fields. "It should now prioritise solar panels on homes, warehouses and car park canopies. "With other mega solar farms already proposed across the country, the danger has not gone away. "Rolling out mega solar schemes without proper regard for their landscape impact risks alienating many people who support climate action.

"Next year’s Strategic Spatial Energy Plan must unlock renewable energy in the right places, including small-scale, community-led solar. Until then, we need a moratorium. "No further solar farms over 30 megawatts should be given the go-ahead." Botley West Solar Farm say there is a need to increase electricity generation to support demand in Oxfordshire. On its website, those behind the farm said its ambition was "to increase solar generating capacity from 300 MW to 1900 MW by 2030, as well as supplying electricity to an area where the demand is growing and where there is capacity to accommodate it."

Any legal challenge by the developer would be restricted to a High Court Judicial Review, which must be launched within six weeks and can only succeed on grounds of legal error or procedural flaw rather than planning merits. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...