News

Plans for community-owned Solar PV Farm at Cornbury Estate, Charlbury

The BBC reports:

"Plans for a solar farm within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been refused by council planners. Sustainable Charlbury's 5 MW project for land south of the B4022 was expected to power up to 1,100 homes.

"There was concern from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) that the scheme would blight the area. West Oxfordshire District Council officers had recommended the refusal of the planning application. The council report said the solar farm would represent a major development within the Cotswolds AONB and 'would be of harm to the visual amenity of the area'.

"The authority received 23 letters of objection to the proposals for the 30 acre (12 hectare) site on the Cornbury Estate. Other objections included loss of wildlife and that it would 'urbanise the landscape'."

Liz Reason, director of Sustainable Charlbury, said it was looking to fund an appeal.

Sustainable Charlbury is working with the Cornbury Estate and the Low Carbon Hub in Oxford to create a 5 MW solar PV orchard on the Fawler Road just outside Charlbury. 5MW provides enough electricity for 1,400 homes. Planning Application submitted to WODC on 14 February 2014 with this statement of community engagement. 

The plan is for a cooperatively-owned facility which provides attractive returns on investment to individual shareholders as well as financial benefits back to the local community from the operating profit. 

For comparison see the webpage  for the 5MW community-owned solar PV farm at Westmill which is open to the public several times each year. The are several opportunities each month this summer until October for a guided walk around Westmill, see entries on the Events page. Book your place by emailing wesetbookings@westmill.coop