Solar farm size reduced after public consultation

A proposed solar farm that aims to provide energy for over 57,000 homes has been scaled down after receiving feedback from local residents. The Rosefield Solar Farm, which is set to be located between the towns of Buckingham and Aylesbury, will now have its size reduced by approximately 40%. This decision comes after a public consultation that took place last year, where community members shared their thoughts and concerns about the project. In addition to reducing the area for solar panels, the company has committed to increasing the space designated for nature by five times. This means that there will be more land available for wildlife and natural habitats, which is an important aspect of the project. The plans for the solar farm also include battery storage, which will help store the energy produced for later use. The company, Rosefield Solar Farm, has begun a new round of consultations that will continue until November 14. They have stated that they have taken into account the responses from the community, as well as environmental assessments and technical studies, to make changes to their original plans. The adjustments include a significant reduction in the area allocated for solar panels, an increase in the area set aside for nature, and ensuring that homes nearby are further away from the solar farm. The feedback gathered from this latest consultation will be used to refine the proposals before the company submits an application for development consent. To keep the community informed, several public exhibitions are scheduled to take place from October 3 to October 19 in various villages, including Botolph Claydon, Calvert, Steeple Claydon, and Quainton. Matthew Boulton, the director of solar, storage, and private wire at EDF Renewables UK, expressed the company's commitment to listening to the community's feedback regarding the Rosefield project. In September 2023, EDF announced that the solar farm could potentially power about a quarter of the homes in Buckinghamshire. The company also mentioned that parts of the site would be utilized for recreational, landscape, and ecological improvements, further enhancing the benefits of the solar farm for the local community.