The decision regarding the construction of a large solar farm has been postponed due to concerns about its impact on a highly valued landscape.
Cherwell district councillors were expected to make a decision on the Padbury Brook development, which is proposed for Stratton Audley near Bicester, during their latest planning meeting. However, the committee members opted to delay the decision and conduct a site visit, despite the recommendation for approval from officers.
The proposed project entails a 44-megawatt solar station, consisting of rows of solar panels that would span several fields in the open countryside, covering approximately 59.4 hectares (147 acres).
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) objected to the development, stating that it should only proceed if there is clear public support from the communities most affected by the project. They suggested that solar panels on buildings or brownfield sites offer alternative energy sources without the negative impacts associated with greenfield sites.
On the other hand, a supporter named Jo Adams from Lower Boddington expressed approval for the modern project. She acknowledged potential opposition but emphasized the project’s benefits in terms of contributing to net zero goals, managing electricity prices, and enhancing biodiversity.
The applicant’s planning paper highlighted the urgent need for the UK to secure an affordable and reliable energy supply for current and future populations.
Meanwhile, plans for another solar farm in Oxfordshire, the 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) Botley West Solar Farm covering sites near Botley, Kidlington, and Woodstock, have faced objections recently.