Wiltshire solar farm extension to be considered by planning committee

Jessica Moriarty

5 July 2024 at 0:00 am·2-min read

View from the south eastern corner of the application site looking north along the eastern boundary. <i>(Image: Wiltshire Council)</i> — View from the south eastern corner of the application site looking north along the eastern boundary. *(Image: Wiltshire Council)*

The existing solar farm between Warminster and Amesbury could be extended if Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee give the planning application the go-ahead.

Codford Solar Farm is located near the villages of Codford St Mary and Chitterne and has been approved in phases, the first two of which became operational in 2013 and 2016.

This latest application, the fourth phase, would see 17 new banks of solar panels installed north of the site.

According to the plans submitted on behalf of JM Stratton & Co, the installed capacity is estimated to be around 18,000KWP, which is enough to supply the needs of approximately 5870 Wiltshire households.

The solar farm has been approved in phases. (Image: CL Planning)

The development would also require installing 34 CCTV cameras and 8 transformers, enclosed by deer fencing and a substation outside of the fenced area.

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee will debate the plans at its meeting on Wednesday, July 10.

The application was called in for the committee to determine at the request of the local Wylye Valley division member, Cllr Christopher Newbury, over concerns such as the visual impact and the scale of the development.

This comes after Wiltshire Council voted to approve a motion which suggested calling upon the government to ensure solar developments are “more evenly spread across the UK” in May 2024.

There are over 40 solar farms currently operational in the county and recent plans for Lime Down Solar Park have faced strong local opposition.

Nevertheless, the report set to be presented to the committee recommends that this extension to Codford Solar Farm be approved.

It states: “The southern part of Wiltshire has not had the same level of solar development as seen in the central and northern areas.

“It is submitted that it cannot be reasonably concluded that there has been a harmful ‘cumulative impact’ in this part of Wiltshire and that the proposal would cause a harmful impact either ‘locally’ or on the general industrialisation of the countryside in Wiltshire.”

It also notes: “The application site therefore offers something of an opportunity to be able to locate this development (to which there is evidenced need for a lot more capacity by 2050 and to also secure energy security) without causing demonstrable harm to the landscape – and with no received public objections.”

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