Burcot Farm solar plan appeal follows 2022 council denial. Project aims for 49.9MW, feeding green power to the National Grid.
South Oxfordshire District Council first denied it in 2022. The solar farm would last 40 years, then close. They would then restore the land for farming again. The farm could make 49.9 megawatts of power.
It will send all this green power to the National Grid. Batteries would help keep energy flowing steadily and meet electricity demand over time.
The council said it wants renewable energy. They also noted the plan’s similar issues. The council saw no reason to change their decision, recommending denial like before.
The Planning Inspectorate listened February 11-14. Mark Reynolds spoke for the district council. Odette Chalaby represented Burcot Solar Farm Limited. Chalaby found the council’s stance confusing.
She said Reynolds agreed benefits outweighed harms. He still wanted to refuse the plan, which was a mistake. Rowan Clapp also spoke for the district council.
Clapp said the council understands the need for clean power. He stated that they shouldn’t count same benefits multiple times. Grid connection isn’t a separate gain.