Callum Miller MP calls for Botley West Solar Farm refusal
An MP has called for the government to refuse the application for one of Europe’s largest solar farms, as he says its case is “still full of holes”.
Calum Miller, Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock, said questions around the Botley West Solar Farm submission, including impact on nearby communities and uncertainty over the proposed grid connection, “remain unanswered”.
Developer Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) said it had addressed each point and added the application had been developed following “extensive consultation with local communities, alongside detailed environmental and technical assessments”.
The government declined to comment due to the planning case being live.
Calum MillerPVDP wants to build the solar farm across more than 2,000 acres of land to the north and west of Oxford.
In March, it was announced that a decision would not be made until September, with minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey explaining that would “enable” the government to “seek further information” from developers.
Miller said the government had called for final submissions last week and his response “reflected the fact that I believe that the developer has not provided adequate information to justify such a huge scheme”.