Questions asked over scale of rural solar farm

The developer behind a 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) solar farm has been advised to justify the project's scale by a government agency.

Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) submitted plans in November for the Botley West Solar Farm which would cover an area of countryside near Botley, Kidlington and Woodstock.

The Planning Inspectorate has now asked for "additional detail" on the reasons for the scale of the solar farm, which has been criticised by campaigners.

PVDP has said, if approved, the facility would generate 840 MW of renewable energy to the National Grid, enough to power the equivalent of 330,000 homes.

The proposed solar farm is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) meaning the application must be considered by the government, rather than local councils.

The developer's application for the solar farm has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

The government inspection body has now advised PVDP that it may wish consider adding further information.

In a letter sent to the developers, the Planning Inspectorate said "some justification" for the need of the project had been provided but a further clarification would "benefit all parties."

It asked for more information on "UK future electricity requirements" and what role solar farms would play in meeting demand.

It also asked the developers to explain how "economically attractive" solar farms were compared with other forms of renewable energy.

The letter also drew attention to what it called "minor errors and admissions".

A campaign group opposed to the solar farm said the letter echoed the concerns of residents in the area.

Alex Rogers, chair of the Stop Botley West community group, said: "We have consistently questioned the need for a solar power station of this unprecedented scale.

"The Planning Inspectorate's concerns get straight to the heart of what is fundamentally wrong with the Botley West proposal."

Mark Owen-Lloyd, who is managing the PVDP project, said: "[The letter] is standard. It neither indicates [the Planning Inspectorate] likes our application nor dislikes it.

"I'd urge everyone to register and have their say".

People can register as an interested party to comment on the application until 27 February.

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