Multiple Large-Scale Solar Farm Plans Advance Across UK Counties

Several large-scale solar farm projects across the UK are advancing despite local concerns over landscape impact, loss of farmland, and rural character. In Oxfordshire, an appeal allowed a solar farm development near Stratton Audley to proceed with conditions addressing noise and a 40-year expiration, despite local opposition. Belltown Power has filed plans for a 32.875-hectare solar farm near Southwick, Wiltshire, promising to power over 14,300 homes and reduce CO2 emissions, along with community benefits. SSE Renewables is consulting on the Shepway Energy Park in Kent, proposing 200 MW of solar panels and a 400 MW battery storage facility, but local residents fear the industrialization of farmland and disruption. In Somerset, a 40-acre solar farm by PACE Yeti Energy Ltd aims to power over 3,210 homes and offset significant CO2 emissions, with local authorities recommending approval despite objections. These projects highlight the ongoing tension between renewable energy development and concerns about environmental and community impacts.