Harlesford Solar Farm

Background:

Harlesford Solar Farm is a 78 hectare site on farmland at Harlesford Farm near Tetsworth, South Oxfordshire.  The South Oxfordshire District Council has declared a climate emergency. The developer, Low Carbon, wanted to develop a solar photovoltaic farm with battery storage that would operate for 40 years and provide clean, renewable energy for over 15,000 local homes.

Challenge:

As the site was farmland, the planning application required the scheme to demonstrate how habitats would be protected, to prevent an impact on the biodiversity and to minimise landscape and visual impacts. 

DWD services:

The solar planning team, led by Nick Bowen, provided the expert planning advice and project management required to take the project from the pre-app, EIA Screening and consultation stages through to the grant of planning permission.  

This required careful negotiation with both South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) and technical consultees. The planning application was supported by an Environmental Statement and the team was required to address a number of sensitive landscape, heritage and archaeological issues.

Benefits:

The Harlesford Solar Farm will generate enough renewable power to provide over 15,000 homes in South Oxfordshire while achieving a biodiversity net gain.  The scheme will help to meet national and local objectives for reducing carbon emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels