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Search the Public Notice PortalOxfordshire solar farm campaigners are furious at a delay to the decision on whether to grant a major energy infrastructure project approval.
Stop Botley West Group said they feel “let down” after the government announced they would not rule on the 2,000-acre west Oxfordshire scheme until November.
Led by Professor Alex Rogers, a spokesperson for the group, said: “The Government’s decision to allow the developer even more time to do its homework and answer longstanding challenges is an abuse of what should be a strict and fair planning process.
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“We know that hundreds of Oxfordshire residents are angered and frustrated by the further delay and feel unfairly let down by a planning system that we’ve been asked to respect.”
The controversial £800 million project was due to be decided on this month but earlier this week the minister for local energy and jobs said it would be moved back to November 10.
Martin McCluskey said: “This is to enable my department and other interested parties to consider further information received from the applicant.
“The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.”
He took up the post in July 2026, appointed to the new role by the prime minister Andy Burnham who ousted former Labour leader Keir Starmer earlier this summer.
The developers of the solar farm that will cover areas north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of Botley, said they “welcomed” the announcement.
A spokesperson said: “The additional time will allow the department to review the further information submitted and ensure all relevant considerations are properly assessed before a decision is reached.
"We remain confident in the strength of our application, which has been shaped by extensive consultation and detailed environmental and technical assessment, and we look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with stakeholders throughout the process.”
They added that the project will deliver up to 840MW of clean electricity and will help to strengthen UK energy security and support the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
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In the same week as the delay was announced, Photovolt also revealed a number of changes to their plans following consultation with local Oxfordshire authorities.
This includes the removal of around 130 hectares of solar panels from the proposals, bespoke changes made to minimise the impact on homes and ensuring buffer zones of at least 100 metres across the site.
Mark Owen-Lloyd, director at Photovolt, said: “By working closely with Oxfordshire’s Host Authorities and listening to local concerns, we believe these refinements strike the right balance, protecting residential and visual amenity while delivering an important renewable energy project for Oxfordshire and the UK.”
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