The proposed 840MW Botley West Solar Farm in the UK has completed its second phase of consultation, marking a significant step forward in the project's development. Led by developer Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP), the solar farm is situated in the western region of Oxfordshire, spanning across the districts of Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, and the Vale of White Horse.
The consultation period, which ran for 10 weeks from November 30, 2023, to February 8, 2024, provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the updated proposals for the solar farm. The engagement initiative comprised 10 information events, including nine in-person sessions and one online event, facilitating discussions and feedback submission both online and via traditional paper formats.
With over one thousand individuals participating in the events and hundreds of feedback submissions received from various community members, local groups, councils, and technical bodies, the project team expressed gratitude for the robust level of engagement witnessed during the consultation process.
Mark Owen-Lloyd, Project Developer at PVDP, extended appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the consultation, stating, “On behalf of the Botley West team, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to engage with our consultation, either through attending one of our events or getting in touch via the communication channels, and for all the feedback submitted.”
Owen-Lloyd emphasized the significance of the feedback received in shaping the project's future trajectory, highlighting the team's commitment to considering all inputs as they progress toward the next stages of development. He added, “It has been really interesting to speak to so many different people over the last 10 weeks to hear their views – the feedback that we have received will now all be considered as the project moves forward.”
As the project team continues to engage with relevant stakeholders and conducts environmental assessments, they anticipate submitting the Development Consent Order (DCO) Application for the Botley West Solar Farm in Summer 2024. The conclusion of the second phase of consultation marks a pivotal moment in the project's advancement, underscoring efforts to foster inclusive dialogue and community engagement throughout the development process.
