Councillors in West Oxfordshire will be deciding their formal response to the proposed Botley West Solar Farm on Monday (February 24).

Photovolt Development Partners’ (PVDP) proposals for the 1,400-hectare solar farm were submitted by DCO to the Government in December and are currently being consulted on by the Planning Inspectorate.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s development control committee will formalise its response on Monday, ahead of the deadline for responses on Thursday, February 27.

A 12-page draft response, which councillors will consider at the meeting contains a number of points of concerns including that, the council feels, its previously stated environmental concerns and suggestions have not been addressed.

The document questions whether the site’s position, much of it in Oxford’s Green Belt, meets the required ‘very special circumstances’ and raises concerns over the impact on the Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site.

Several concerns are raised over wildlife and the draft complains of a lack of response to its concerns over the loss of prime farmland.

The draft response concludes: “WODC consider at this stage that the proposal for the Botley West Solar Farm would result in a wide range of detrimental impacts weighing against the suitability of the proposals in the planning balance.”

Cllr Andy Graham, leader of the council, said, “We have been clear from the inception of this proposal that the Council must follow the NSIP application process precisely and correctly and we will therefore provide a well-considered, evidence-based response.

“By taking this approach, we can make a properly informed and impactful submission that will carry more weight. I would urge the Planning Inspector to listen to any feedback agreed by the Committee and this Council.

“We have worked closely with local communities to inform the draft responses to date, and the proposals now being considered by the Committee will be no different.

“We look forward to welcoming residents who wish to listen and attend the meeting, but I would encourage those that do, to check our website for further details. We need to make sure we have a clear and well managed process to ensure the draft response gets proper due diligence before being submitted.” ​

Image: Bilsthorpe_Solar_Farm_(NextEnergy_Solar_Fund)

© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.