Solar Farm to Be Built Near M4 in Wiltshire Despite Concerns

A large solar farm is set to be built on farmland in Wiltshire, England, near the busy M4 motorway. Wiltshire Council approved the project, called Flaxlands Solar Farm, even though some local residents and groups raised concerns. The farm will sit on 87 hectares of land between the towns of Royal Wootton Bassett and Hook. Officials decided that the project's benefits for clean energy outweighed the worries about how it would look in the countryside.

The solar farm will be able to produce up to 49.9 megawatts of electricity — enough to power thousands of homes. It will also include a large battery system to store energy and new areas of natural habitat for wildlife. The project is expected to run for up to 40 years. After that, the solar panels will be removed and the land will be returned to farming.

Not everyone was happy with the decision. A total of 29 objections were filed against the project, including one from Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council. That council said more than 1,000 vehicles would pass through during the building phase, which it called 'not ideal for the current road.' It also said the solar farm would have a 'glaring' visual impact on the area.

One nearby resident, Joann Sprules from Greenhill, said she did not want to lose green space. She argued that solar farms could be placed on already-developed land instead. 'There are much more viable ways to install such solar farms — unused industrial estates, office/warehouse buildings and other brownfield sites,' she said. Her view was shared by others who felt the countryside should be protected.

On the other side, 25 letters of support were sent in by people who backed the project. Supporters said the solar farm was necessary to fight climate change. They believed that producing clean, renewable energy was more important than the short-term changes to the landscape. The mix of views showed how strongly people feel about both the environment and energy needs.

The plans were also changed after feedback from Natural England, a government body that protects wildlife. The original design would have affected a protected area called the Flaxlands Manor County Wildlife Site. Solar panels were moved away from this grassland, and new protections were added for animals like bats, skylarks, great crested newts, and water voles. Ancient woodland nearby was also given extra protection under the revised plans.

Safety rules were put in place for both traffic and the battery storage system. During the six-month building period, more than 1,000 vehicle movements are expected, so strict traffic controls will be used. The battery storage facility will also have special safeguards to keep it operating safely. Planning officers said these measures helped make the project acceptable, even with the concerns that had been raised.