A Victory for Our Landscape – One Tree Hill Solar Farm rejected....but the fight continues
In November 2023, Potterne and neighbouring villages were hit by a double blow: two solar farm applications, just 1,500m apart, were submitted for One Tree Hill (above) and the untouched valley of Potterne Park (top of page). Both proposed developments targeted productive arable land rich in biodiversity, crisscrossed by public footpaths, and lying in areas of high visibility and ecological importance—forming a natural extension to the Pewsey Vale AONB. Crucially, both sites lie within areas designated as not for development in the Wiltshire Local Plan.
Now, we are pleased to share a significant milestone in our campaign: on 30 May 2025, Wiltshire Council rejected the application for the solar farm at One Tree Hill. This is a huge step forward and a testament to the strength of community opposition and reasoned argument.
Since January 2024, Potterne Solar Action Group (PSAG) with local parish councils has worked tirelessly to prevent the industrialisation of our countryside. Our petition to Save One Tree Hill and Potterne Park Farm has now received over 1,100 signatures. We’ve worked closely with our local MPs, Danny Kruger and Brian Mathew, who have raised the issue at both local and national levels.
Wiltshire Council has already exceeded its most ambitious 2030 solar target by 39%, with 820MW of solar capacity set to be operational by 2026 (against a 590MW goal). Our area alone already hosts six solar farms within a five-mile radius, with another five potentially in the pipeline (now four with the One Tree Hill victory). Strategically, this part of the national grid is already congested—hardly ideal for further large-scale solar development.
These proposals clearly contradict the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which seeks to protect valued landscapes and rural character, and Wiltshire’s own Core Strategy, which calls for the responsible stewardship of environmental assets. They also undermine the government’s stated commitment to food security and protecting agricultural land.
PSAG strongly supports solar energy in the right locations—on brownfield sites, rooftops, and near motorways, as advocated by CPRE, who back our campaign. CPRE has drawn attention to Wiltshire’s lack of a coordinated spatial plan for renewable energy and the cumulative industrialising effect of clustered solar farms and their associated infrastructure.
In May 2024, PSAG supported a motion raised by Cllrs Alford and Botterill at Wiltshire Council, calling for a fairer national spread of solar development and stronger protections for our rural communities and farmland.
We continue to press for a clear, strategic framework to guide solar planning decisions in Wiltshire—one that respects local priorities, food security, landscape, biodiversity, and community identity. (see link below)
We’ve won the battle for One Tree Hill – now let’s protect Potterne Park Farm.
Please support our campaign to stop the industrialisation of our historic and valued countryside.