Botley West Solar Farm – Final Hearings and How to Have Your Say
9th October 2025
CPRE will be presenting at the final open hearing for the Botley West Solar Farm proposal on 10 October 2025. This marks the last opportunity for organisations and members of the public to share their views on the application.
Our statement will focus on key areas of concern — including the continuing lack of data on soils and Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land, despite repeated requests, as well as the impacts on the Green Belt and the inadequate public consultation process.
This week’s hearings will also cover Compulsory Acquisition and a range of specific issues, including ecology, flooding, landscape and visual impacts, and cultural heritage. Stop Botley West will be represented by their barrister alongside expert witnesses in landscape and heritage.
Two key deadlines remain in the Examination process:
- 20 October 2025 (Deadline 6): Submit written summaries of oral submissions made at any Open Hearings.
- 10 November 2025: Submit your “closing statement” – your final views on the proposal, reflecting on all the evidence, exchanges, and challenges presented during the Examination.
This is the last chance to take part and make your voice heard on one of the most significant landscape and planning issues facing our countryside.
For further context, The Observer recently published an insightful article on Botley West and the national debate around solar development, featuring Blenheim Palace and the surrounding area. Well worth a read.