Hampshire residents' final say over solar farms proposals

More than 100 objections have been submitted to Winchester City Council in response to the plans by ILOS New Energy UK, which wants to build a 5.4MW solar farm at Western Court Farm on Bishop’s Sutton Road, on the edge of Alresford.

The company says the site would generate enough electricity to power approximately 2,400 average homes and save an anticipated 1,932 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Not everyone is convinced, with residents raising concerns about the impact on the landscape, wildlife, and rural environment.

Annette Howlett, from Dunsells Close in Ropley, said: "It is the relentless churning up of the countryside for new builds, solar farms, etc.

"It’s a ridiculous place to site a solar farm."

Michael Dickens, who lives on Pound Hill in Alresford, said: "Big solar farms are good, but small ones such as being proposed here not how our country can become energy self sufficient!"

Carole Shackleford, of Appledown Close, also raised concerns about losing farmland.

She said: "Although I support sustainability, Agricultural land should be used exactly for that purpose, especially in the world that we are living in now.

Bishop's Sutton Road (Image: Google Maps)

"There are already solar panels here, why do we need to threaten our wildlife and ecological environment even more, especially as we are on the edge of one of our country's beautiful national parks?"

The scheme has also attracted some support.

Adrian Binney, from Dover Close, said: "This location is fine for solar panels – we need them."

Charles Ottley of Church Lane, Tichborne, argued the environmental impact would be minimal.

An ILOS spokesperson said: "Our assessment concludes that the proposed solar farm can be integrated into the existing rural landscape without causing significant harm to local character, valued views, heritage assets, biodiversity, or visual amenity.

"The development would generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 2,400 average homes and is expected to save around 1,932 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, making a meaningful contribution towards local climate targets.

"The proposals also deliver substantial biodiversity enhancements, including considerable additional planting for both landscape integration and ecological improvement, alongside Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on-site net gains of +91.5 per cent in habitat units and +12.3 per cent in hedgerow units.

"Overall, the development is considered compliant with national and local planning policies and represents an appropriate and carefully designed response to climate emergency and renewable energy targets."

More information about this application can be found by visiting Winchester City Council’s online planning portal and searching using reference 26/00707/FUL.

The deadline to comment is May 28.