November 2023

Swindon Climate Action Network Group and the Wiltshire Climate Alliance are asking for support to submit comments via the Wiltshire Council planning portal before 27th November 2023 regarding a proposed solar farm in Wiltshire, near Kington St. Michael, about 20 miles west of Swindon, south of the M4 and adjacent to the A350.

The solar farm proposes electricity generation equivalent to consumption of around 15,000 homes with CO2 savings of 13,700 tonnes annually compared with gas generation.

Community & Environmental Benefits from Solar Farm in Wiltshire

This Wiltshire solar farm proposal includes a range of environmental benefits such as new hedgerows, continued agricultural use with sheep grazing and biodiversity improvements.

The developers Eden Renewables, include in the proposals a community and educational benefit fund for local people of £24,000 per year for 40 years, opportunity for shared ownership, 3km of new footpaths and bridleways, a community orchard, new trees, wildflower meadows, beehives, bird and bat boxes as well as an area for allotments.

The submitted planning application for this solar farm in Wiltshire can be viewed on the Wiltshire Council planning portal, where members of the public can provide comments to Wiltshire Council. Find our more about our home solar installation service to have a micro solar farm on your own property.

Harwell Village Hall originally built in the late 1920s and situated in the heart of Harwell village in the Thames Valley, Oxfordshire, not far from Didcot. It serves as a hub for various social and community events; now it has a new community solar installation.

The hall has significant electricity needs, as it serves as a focal point for numerous groups in the village and the local area. Solar Kw were were commissioned to design and install a large solar array consisting of 81 Panels – system size 32.4kw, as well as solar battery storage with a size of 23.2kw.

Gatherings at Harwell Village Hall encompass a wide range of activities, catering to various age groups, including fitness and dance sessions for both the young and the elderly, arts and crafts, woodturners, Harwell Womens Institue, short mat bowls, and a host of clubs tailored for toddlers and young children such as Fun Club. Additionally, it houses our youth theatre group Gobo Theatre and the Harwell Parish History Group.

Furthermore, it functions as the designated local Polling Station, and adjacent to the foyer entrance lies the office of the Parish Council.

Operating as a registered charity, funding stems from the revenue generated through hires, which is then allocated towards covering expenses including insurance, repairs, heating, and more.

The community solar installation at Harwell Village Hall generates most of the electricity needs and hence provides significant cost savings.