Wiltshire Council rejection of solar park plans overturned

A solar park the size of 160 football pitches will be built after a government inspector granted planning consent – overturning the local council’s refusal.

The 23 megawatt Swallett Energy Park, which will be built between Dauntsey and Christian Malford in Wiltshire, and will cover 114 hectares (281 acres).

A meeting of Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee in March 2025 had voted down the plans, citing landscape concerns and the impact on designated heritage assets, with more than 50 letters of objection sent by residents.

The solar panels are expected to be able to produce enough energy to power more than 9,400.

The developer, Exagen Development Limited, appealed against the council’s reasons for refusal in September and a one-day hearing was held on 16 December, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

This followed a site visit with the inspector, a representative of Exagen, and a Wiltshire Council officer the day before.

In his findings, inspector Ben Plenty addressed the visual impact of the development.

“The local landscape includes the M4 corridor and railway lines in cuttings and embankments,” he said.

“The proposed development would locate solar arrays within the existing field pattern.

“It would retain and enhance hedge and tree groups within the site, thereby retaining the structure of field boundaries and keeping field patterns intact.

“As such, the proposal would have a largely non-invasive and restorative impact on the landscape features defined as important to the character areas.”

He also acknowledged that the residents of Malford House and Great Ridgeway Farm – both of which date from the 1700s – would be able to see the development from their homes.