Wiltshire solar farm enters public consultation phase

Plans for a major solar energy project in Wiltshire have moved to the next stage, following acceptance of the Lime Down Solar application by the Planning Inspectorate.

Island Green Power’s (IGP) application for Lime Down Solar – designated a nationally significant infrastructure project – has been “approved for examination”, triggering a minimum 30-day window for local residents and stakeholders to respond.

The final decision will be made by Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy security and net zero after that.

See also: Developer offers £50,000 to landowners to not object to solar farm

The proposal covers an 890ha rural site, with an associated cable route spanning 14 miles across North Wiltshire.

The Telegraph revealed last week that landowners were offered up to £50,000 to grant access to their land, on condition they did not object to the plans and withdrew any previous objections in writing to the secretary of state.

The Stop Lime Down campaign group has raised concerns about the project and the handling of the consultation process.

Sir Mike Pitt, spokesman for the group, said: “We are dismayed by the Planning Inspectorate’s decision.

“Not only are IGP’s proposals flawed, but, in our view, the consultation process prior to submission of the development consent order application was materially substandard.”

He added: “Not only did IGP exclude impacted areas from the core consultation zone and fail to engage with at least 45 landowners who now face the threat of compulsory acquisition, but we now know that some landowners have effectively been offered significant payment in exchange for not opposing the plans.”

Sir Mike noted that the planned development comprises five parcels of land situated nearly 15 miles from the grid connection point and described the project as “colossal”.

“The footprint of the panels alone is over one-third larger than Gatwick Airport,” said Sir Mike, “and that is before you include the sprawling power cable route that will require tunnelling underneath the M4, as well as the main London to Bristol railway line.”

The Stop Lime Down campaign claims the project will also impact prime farmland, local economies and wildlife habitats, while delivering “at best, less than 1% of the government’s 70GW solar capacity target by 2035”.

Wiltshire Council opposed the Lime Down plan in July.

The consultation is now open for public submissions.

To have your say within the next 30 days, visit National Infrastructure Project website

For more about the campaign, visit the Stop Lime Down website.