Government Approves Wiltshire Solar Farm Despite Local Objections and MP Opposition
A contentious solar farm proposal near Highworth, Wiltshire, has been granted permission by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho. This decision reverses Swindon Borough Council's initial rejection of the project, which faced substantial local resistance.
The application, submitted by Enso Energy and Canadian Solar, outlines plans for a 70-hectare site capable of powering approximately 18,000 homes. The council had previously refused planning permission, citing concerns over the loss of agricultural land and the project's visual impact on the rural landscape. However, the Planning Inspectorate subsequently recommended approval, leading to the Secretary of State's final endorsement.
Local residents and their Member of Parliament, Sir Robert Buckland, had vocally opposed the development, arguing it constituted an unwelcome industrialisation of the countryside. Sir Robert stated he was "bitterly disappointed" by the outcome, accusing the government of undermining local democracy. Opponents had formed the 'Stop Enso' campaign, gathering over 2,000 petition signatures against the scheme.
The government's rationale for approving the project underscores its commitment to national renewable energy generation, a policy often used to justify overriding local planning authority. This decision is consistent with broader trends where central government intervenes in local planning to facilitate large-scale energy infrastructure, frequently at the expense of local community input and environmental concerns beyond carbon reduction.
