Solar farm size reduced after public consultation

The proposed site for Rosefield Solar Farm is between Buckingham and Aylesbury

A proposed solar farm that could power more than 57,000 homes has been reduced in size after feedback from local people.

Rosefield Solar Farm said the planned site on land between Buckingham and Aylesbury would be reduced by about 40% following a consultation that took place last year.

The "area set aside for nature" will be increased "fivefold", it added.

Another consultation on the plans, which also include battery storage, has started and will run until 14 November.

Rosefield said after receiving responses from the community, stakeholders, environmental assessments and technical work carried out, its plans have been altered.

"Changes include a reduction of almost 40% in the area proposed for solar panels, a fivefold increase in the area set aside for nature, and larger offsets from nearby homes," it said.

Feedback from the latest consultation will be used to "refine proposals" before a development consent order application is submitted.

A number of public exhibitions are due to take place from 3 to 19 October in villages, which include Botolph Claydon, Calvert, Steeple Claydon and Quainton.

Matthew Boulton, EDF Renewables UK’s director of solar, storage and private wire, said: "We will continue to listen hard to the feedback we get from people on our proposals for Rosefield."

In September 2023, EDF said Rosefield could power about a quarter of homes in Buckinghamshire.

The company added that parts of the site would be used for "recreational, landscape and ecological enhancements".