Botley West Solar Farm: Plans for new development move forward

Botley West Solar Farm would cover 1,000 hectares (2,471-acres)

Plans for a new solar farm have moved a step closer to development after a second phase of public consultations has come to an end.

The 1,000 hectare (2,471-acre) Botley West Solar Farm would cover sites near Botley, Kidlington and Woodstock.

Some residents have opposed the proposals by Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP).

The developer said it would consider all feedback as the project in the Oxfordshire countryside moves forward.

PVDP said more than 1,000 people expressed their views during a 10-week consultation period, which ended on Thursday.

PVDP's Mark Owen-Lloyd said it has been interesting to hear the views of "so many different people"

It said it hoped to submit its application for the farm to the Planning Inspectorate in the summer.

In the meantime, it said it was continuing to engage with relevant groups and stakeholders and undertaking environmental assessments.

There has been strong opposition to the project from some local campaign groups.

Members of Stop Botley West have said the scheme was "of a scale that's entirely inappropriate for this region".

Posters appeared claiming the solar farm would be "Russian owned"

PVDP has said people would "not notice" the solar farm.

At the end of the second consultation phase, PVDP project developer Mark Owen-Lloyd thanked "everyone who took the time to engage with our consultation".

He added: "It has been really interesting to speak to so many different people over the last 10 weeks to hear their views.

"The feedback that we have received will now all be considered as the project moves forward."

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