Noke and Stratton Audley Solar Farms – latest news
15th April 2025
Two large solar farms, which had been rejected in the summer by the Planning Committee of Cherwell District Council, are now being appealed.
The sites are
- Padbury Brook Solar Farm, between the parishes of Godington and Stratton Audley, North East of Bicester and
- Noke, north east of Oxford city, in the Green Belt, in the middle of Otmoor beside the River Ray.
The appeals are taking the form of Inspectors hearings, taking place at The John Paul ll Centre, Webb Court, 12 The Causeway, Bicester, OX26 6AW from 10 AM, with the Stratton Audley hearing on the 24th April and the Noke (Otmoor) on the 29th April. These hearings are open to the public to attend.
CPRE Oxfordshire strongly oppose these developments and urge the inspector to uphold the original rejection of these schemes based on their proven negative impact on biodiversity, food production and the visual impact on the landscape.
A core purpose of planning is to balance in the public interest the level of benefit that a development would provide with the harm it would create. In the case of these two developments, the benefit is quantitatively small and is wholly overwhelmed by the major harms it would create.
CPRE Oxfordshire recognise that climate change is a huge threat to the countryside and urgent action is required to stop it. We need to rapidly decarbonise our energy system in a way that protects the countryside for future generations.
The recent Climate Change Committee plan, issued in February 2025, shows that only 0.6% of England is required for solar energy, meaning we can be highly selective about where solar installations are permitted, avoiding the damage to important landscapes and food production both these sites would create.
There is sufficient space on commercial and industrial roofs to accommodate all or almost all of the solar energy requirement, producing energy more efficiently at the point of use, and leaving our countryside intact.
The county urgently needs a Renewables Strategy that guides a planned approach to solar energy development, including policy to insist all new housing and commercial development incorporates solar on rooftops.
What can you do?
Attend the hearings this month to allow your voice to be heard (details above)
Sign this petition to nan large solar schemes on farmland/open countryside and promote solar on roofs.
Save the date for our upcoming the Big Give Green Match Fund where all donations to our Rooftop Renewables scheme will be doubled for one week from 22nd April, allowing us to launch our pilot project in Sonning Common.