Projects

Botley West Solar Farm

Botley West Solar Farm is a proposed development in the west of Oxfordshire. If approved, the development will be one of the UK’s largest solar farms, delivering 840 Megawatts (MW) of clean energy – enough to power approximately 330,000 homes.

Botley West is a significant opportunity to contribute towards achieving the UK's climate goals, including decarbonising electricity by 2035, and to help deliver Oxfordshire's Energy Strategy and transition to net zero.

Working on behalf of Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP), we are delivering the planning and environmental elements of the project. The proposals will seek consent for a project lifespan of 42 years, from consent to decommissioning.

Botley West has already been subject to an informal first phase of public consultation, which has helped to inform the ongoing assessment work and evolving design. The project is currently going through a scoping stage and the assembly of Preliminary Environmental Information before a second formal round of consultation.

Key details

Project name

Botley West Solar Farm

Client

Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP)

Location

West Oxfordshire, Cherwell, and Vale of White Horse Districts

Services provided:

Planning
Environmental and land quality assessments
Ecology
Biodiversity Net Gain
Heritage
Hydrology
Air quality
Human health impacts
Glint and glare

Challenge

Botley West Solar Farm is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). Project approval will be determined by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, following examination and recommendations by the Planning Inspectorate, and engagement and consultation with the host authorities, local stakeholders, communities, and statutory bodies.

The location of the site, much of which is on land owned by Blenheim Estate, and the impact upon the Oxford Green Belt, present significant complexities for the design and planning phases of the project. The design work has progressed during 2023, following an initial informal round of consultation at the end of 2022.

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Solution

We are currently guiding PVDP in the design process, helping to integrate the project into the existing landscape, protecting and enhancing established assets, including providing benefits for ecology, public access, community use, water management, and landscape character.

We are providing an assessment and analysis of the potential benefits and impacts of the proposals on the local environment, community, and economy. Our teams are providing guidance on the scheme design and recommendations for landscape and habitat management, surface water and flood risk, and community benefits. The scheme will support local food-growing groups, improved footpaths, and cycle networks, and the potential for sheep grazing and will secure significant biodiversity net gain – expected to be over 80%.