Exagen Development's Wiltshire Swallett Energy Park refused

Exagen Development Limited submitted the original application in December 2023 for a 23MW renewable energy park to the west of Lyneham substation, north of the Great Western Mainline, to the west of Dauntsey Lock.

The council’s strategic planning committee turned down the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, March 19, after raising significant concerns over the fact that the proposed date for the project's connection to the grid was not before 2036.

READ MORE: Underground cable route approved for controversial solar farm

The underground cable would have taken the shortest available route along the highway to connect to the existing Lyneham substation. (Image: Exagen Development Limited) Speaking to attendees on Wednesday, Cllr Ernie Clark said: “If the applicant wants to apply for something that they know they can’t actually build for probably another seven or eight years, why the hell are we considering it now?”

The chairman of the committee, Cllr Howard Greenman, agreed that he could see “no tangible public benefit” to approving something that “may or may not happen” in ten years.

A representative of the developer argued: “The development is temporary and reversible.

“Alongside producing cheap, clean domestic energy and reducing the reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels, there is substantial biodiversity enhancement with a net gain of over 80 per cent for habitat units.”

However, local resident Katrina Forrester told councillors she would not be able to run her holiday cottage business if the project went ahead.

She said: “I would also really like to direct the committee to have more of an in-depth look at the cumulative effect of the existing and approved solar farms in north Wiltshire.”

Christian Malford Parish Council also objected to the plans, raising the issue of potential flooding in the area and claiming the scheme was “unviable and untenable”.

Councillors were also concerned by the impact the solar park would have on the surrounding landscape.

Ultimately, the committee voted to refuse the proposal.

SEE ALSO: Garage to get MOT test bay after years of driving cars miles away

Andrew Mott, head of planning and environment at Exagen, said: “We are naturally disappointed with the decision reached by Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee in refusing an application that would help lower energy bills, improve the UK's energy security, significantly contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions and deliver substantial biodiversity net gain. 

“We worked with the council's technical officers to arrive at a layout that fulfils planning policy and guidelines and delivers against an established urgent need for more renewable energy generation.

“This was evidenced by the lack of statutory technical objections and a planning officer recommendation for approval.

“The application was due to be determined under delegated powers and only two weeks ago it was requested to be heard by the strategic planning committee instead. 

“Ultimately this was a decision made by councillors, which ignored the advice of all their technical officers and lacked any proper consideration of the benefits that the project would deliver.

“Just this month the government published the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, part of which looks to improve certainty and decision-making in the planning system, through introducing a new scheme of delegation to modernise local planning committees.

“This indicates a positive direction of travel but comes too late for this project.

“Some concerns were raised by committee members over the grid connection date but this is all under review by the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

“Following the ongoing grid reforms, projects that are 'ready to connect', which this project would have been if approved, will benefit from accelerated grid connection dates.

“We intend to appeal the decision which will continue to demonstrate a readiness to connect and bring with it an improvement in the connection date that was originally offered by the DNO. 

“We do remain convinced of the urgent need for projects like this, and the benefits they would provide.”