A Wiltshire homeowner who was denied permission to install solar panels on his property is now leading a battle against a sprawling 2,200-acre solar farm planned for the countryside near his home.
Tony Ward, who has lived in his Grade II listed home in Chippenham for two decades, says the proposed development would devastate the local landscape while raising questions about planning fairness.
This is after 20 years ago Wiltshire Council denied him planning permission to install a small number of solar panels.
A personal setback sparks a bigger battle
In 2005, Ward applied for planning permission to install solar panels on his family’s log barn to help offset the costs of his home’s ground-source heating system.
His request was rejected by the local council, citing concerns that the panels would obscure the historical development of the property when viewed from above by hot air balloonists. Despite accepting this decision, Ward now finds himself fighting against a far larger solar development that could transform the surrounding countryside.
"We weren’t allowed to install a modest set of solar panels on a rundown cow barn, yet now they want to cover thousands of acres in solar panels right next to us," Ward said. "It’s an enormous contradiction."
The impact of a mega solar project
The Lime Down Solar development, backed by the Duke of Beaufort, proposes to install four-and-a-half-meter-high solar panels across multiple sites in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, with accompanying battery storage units and extensive cabling infrastructure. Including underground cables, the total project footprint would span 7,000 acres.
Residents fear the development will bring excessive light and noise pollution to what is currently an area of natural beauty, rich in historical significance. "The night sky here is so crisp and clear. If this goes ahead, we will lose that forever," Ward warned. "There will be humming from the batteries, floodlighting, and an irreversible change to the landscape."
Campaigners have also raised concerns about the displacement of tenant farmers and the loss of agricultural land. The project has drawn sharp criticism from local MPs, environmental experts, and community groups, with many calling for alternative solutions such as rooftop solar on warehouses and brownfield sites.
A community divided and a national debate
Opposition to Lime Down Solar has galvanised thousands of local residents, including the grassroots campaign group 'Stop Lime Down.'
Former North Wiltshire MP James Gray labeled the development "scandalous," while current South Cotswolds MP Roz Savage accused the project's backers of prioritising profits over the environment.
"This really is a David vs. Goliath battle," said January Farrington, a spokesperson for Stop Lime Down. "The government must stop sacrificing prime farmland for corporate interests. There are better ways to achieve net zero without destroying our countryside."
Despite growing opposition, Island Green Power, the company behind the project, insists that it is engaging with the community and considering feedback before submitting a final proposal. The project remains under consultation, with a decision expected in late 2025.
For Ward, the fight continues. "We all support renewable energy, but this is not the right way to do it. If they denied me solar panels, how can they justify this?"
