Solar farm project to power 10,500 homes approved

Construction of a 43,000-panel solar farm is expected to begin later this year after it was granted approval.

Wokingham Borough Council gave the go-ahead to the Barkham Solar Farm project, after national grid reforms threatened to delay connection until at least 2031.

The project, on land north of California Country Park, is expected to be fully connected in 2029, powering more than 10,500 homes.

Imogen Shepherd-Dubey, executive member for finance, said the project would "generate significant revenue for the council which will go directly into protecting vital services".

The local authority had paused the project in January after the government revised its renewable energy timetable.

After councillors had scrutinised the plans the council said officers had "significantly greater clarity" on the connection timetable, and its updated financial plans showed the scheme remained "robust even under cautious assumptions about delay".

Lou Timlin, executive member for climate emergency, said the solar farm was a "key project" in its climate emergency action plan.

She said taking action on climate was "more urgent than ever" after the "widespread drought and record-breaking heat", which had "killed thousands of people across the country this summer".

"Alongside the smaller Mereoak Park & Ride solar project, Barkham will deliver a big increase in clean energy for the borough," she added.

Catherine Glover, chair of the Climate Emergency Overview & Scrutiny Committee, said: "There was overall support for the project, and it is good to see it progressing."

As well as carbon reductions, it is hoped the scheme will more than double biodiversity on site, plus a new walking and cycling route connecting Arborfield Green and Finchampstead towards Wokingham town.

Subject to final contract sign-off in the coming weeks, construction is expected to begin later this year, with the solar farm targeting partial grid connection in September 2027.

The council said the project would deliver more than £1m annually in net income for its services.