STATUS (JUNE 2026)

On July 1st 2025 the Strategic Planning Committee refused Potterne Park Farm's solar application. They refused on grounds of archaeology surveys not having been done, as recommended by the case officer. In addition, they extended the refusal to include Landscape and non compliance with the Potterne Neighbourhood Plan as grounds for refusal. See download link to Decision Notice below.

On September 8th 2025 an archaeological dig commenced at Potterne Park Farm - obviously connected to one of the planning refusal notifications for the solar farm application (see photo taken from PRoW EAST12). The applicant subsequently submitted an appeal against the decision to refuse the solar farm project at Potterne Park Farm.

PSAG submitted a weighty documentation set related to PPF Solar to the inspector. It included independent experts all saying solar on this site is against policy and not acceptable from a landscape, ecology and access point of view.  It also included evidence from the EA Register that this site will not get connected to the grid until Nov 2037 so we could be living with 11 years of uncertainty and sterilised land.

In April 2026 the Planning Inspector allowed the appeal, approving the Potterne Park solar farm despite overwhelming local opposition and serious, evidence-based concerns.

The decision relied heavily on uncertain future benefits, even though there is no confirmed grid connection (potentially not until 2037) and no requirement for the scheme to actually deliver electricity within any defined timeframe.

PSAG expert evidence — including clear deficiencies in ecological surveys (notably for rare protected bats), landscape harm, and fundamental questions over whether the scheme can even be delivered as proposed — was presented in full but ultimately dismissed or downplayed.

Following the appeal decision, and after extensive consultation with our legal team, PSAG have filed a Judicial Review claim. The challenge focuses on the treatment of grid connection timing and its impact on the planning balance, and the permanent (not temporary) nature of the substation.

• We have also now received the Government's initial response. As expected it is robust, but in our view the core issue remains unresolved: the only evidenced grid connection date before the Inspector was 15 November 2037.

• Next steps – The Government Legal Department now has 21 days to file its formal Acknowledgement of Service with the Court. We will continue to review the position carefully with our legal team as the case progresses and will keep you informed of significant developments.

• A number of renewable energy projects are now facing similar questions regarding grid connection timing following the NESO reforms. We are therefore not alone in confronting these unusual circumstances, where planning permission is granted many years before a scheme is capable of connecting to the grid. Surely planning decisions should properly reflect when a scheme is realistically capable of becoming operational.

Increasing Visibility 

Signs and Banners are being rolled out across villages.  If you have a useful vantage point and want to help, do contact us and stick a sign on your fence or in a window. Remember you need permission of the landowner and do not put your sign up on council land or telegraph poles and road signs. If you need any help putting a sign up, please contact us!

We are keeping our MP Brian Matthew fully informed of developments as well as our councillors Dominic Muns and Tamara Reay