Decision on 2,400-acre solar farm postponed again

Controversial plans to build one of the UK's largest solar farms have been delayed further by the government, which says it needs additional time to "consider further information".

Developer Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) wants to build the Botley West Solar Farm across more than 2,000 acres of land to the north and west of Oxford.

A decision on the scheme had been due earlier this year, before being pushed back to September 2026 by then-Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

In a statement on Wednesday, the government confirmed that its decision on the proposals would now be further postponed until 10 November at the latest.

On the latest setback, Minister for Local Energy and Jobs Martin McCluskey said it would "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 added.

The final decision on the proposals will fall to Miatta Fahnbulleh, who succeeded Miliband as the secretary of state for energy security and net zero in July.

PVDP previously said the project was crucial to meet the UK's climate and energy security goals, and could power the equivalent of 330,000 homes.

If approved, the £800m solar farm would cover about 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) across three areas - north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of Botley.

Reacting to the latest delay, the developers said it was a "common part" of the process for a project "of this scale and significance".

"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," the company said.

"We remain confident in the strength of our application, which has been shaped by extensive consultation and detailed environmental and technical assessment."

But the proposals have proved particularly controversial in the local area, with campaigners previously saying the development would harm an 11km (7-mile) rural corridor.

On Wednesday's further delay, the group Stop Botley West said the government was allowing PVDP "even more time to do its homework and answer longstanding challenges".

This, it said, was an "abuse of what should be a strict and fair planning process".

"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 group said.

Bicester and Woodstock MP Calum Miller, who has been a vocal opponent of the plans, said the latest postponement "crystallises what was already clear: this Botley West application is full of holes and should be rejected outright".

"The new secretary of state should reject this proposal and back renewable energy schemes that deliver genuine community benefit and respect the places where they are built," he added.