Controversial solar farm plan could be decided next week

Controversial plans to build a solar farm on land near Atworth, the size of 24 football pitches, could be decided next week. 

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss the construction of a solar farm and battery storage facility at Whistle Mead in Little Chalfield near Melksham. 

The proposal, put forward by Blue Stone Renewable I Ltd, involves the installation of a solar farm of up to 24.14 megawatts – enough to power up to 8,000 homes – with battery storage units, two metre high fencing, and security cameras on 2.5 metre poles. 

The 31,000 solar panels would each stand at 2.7 metres tall. 

The scheme would cover 17 hectares on a site totalling 26 hectares. The site is located about 180m from the nearest house and under a mile from the Grade I listed Great Chalfield Manor. 

A previous proposal for a solar farm on the site was refused at appeal in 2014. 

The planning inspector said: “The proposal, by reason of its size and scale, would result in a dominant and uncharacteristic form of development which introduces a series of uncharacteristic utilitarian structures across the open field together with security fencing and cameras causing unacceptable visual harm to the landscape character and appearance of the site and the wider landscape setting.” 

But council officers are now keen on the scheme. “The proposed development is sustainable development that will make a significant contribution to the supply of renewable energy helping to reduce carbon emissions required to meet the Climate Change Act 2050 net zero target,” they say. 

“The limited level of landscape harm identified is considered to be clearly outweighed by the benefits arising from the proposal, including the generation of renewable energy, contribution to climate change mitigation, alignment with national net-zero objectives, and the delivery of long-term landscape and biodiversity enhancements secured through planning conditions.” 

However, the matter has been ‘called in’ by the Wiltshire Councillor for the area, Trevor Carbin, meaning elected councillors – rather than officers – will make the decision. 

Several parish councils, including Atworth, Broughton Gifford, Holt, South Wraxall, and Whitley and Shaw, have lodged objections to the current proposal. 

However, Wiltshire Council’s Climate Team is supporting the application. The team said the proposal “will make a valuable contribution to providing more renewable energy whilst improving energy security. 

“This will help address the council’s ambitions in terms of carbon neutrality and the legally binding net zero targets of the country”.