Botley West solar farm brings 'positive and negative' impacts
The project is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, meaning the application must be considered by the government, not local councils.As part of the planning process, relevant parties, including the local authorities in which the development sits, can submit their response to the plans.Ahead of the committee meeting, Andy Graham, leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said the authority would submit a "well-considered, evidence-based response"."By taking this approach, we can make a properly informed and impactful submission that will carry more weight," he said.Mr Graham added the council had "worked closely with local communities" in forming its response.The authority's drafted submission predominantly discusses the environmental impact of the proposed solar farm.It questions the use of greenbelt land around Oxford, adding the development would "result in a fundamental change to the landscape character" in an area that is currently "attractive rural countryside".Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) submitted its plan for the site to the Planning Inspectorate in November.PVDP has said, if approved, the facility would generate 840MW of renewable energy to the National Grid - enough to power the equivalent of 330,000 homes.
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