Opponents of a large-scale solar development in Oxfordshire have expressed strong dissatisfaction following an announcement that a decision on the project will be postponed.
Campaign group Stop Botley West stated that its members felt betrayed after ministers confirmed the planning determination would not occur until November.
Professor Alex Rogers, representing the organisation, indicated that the additional time granted to the developer constituted a misuse of what should be a rigorous and impartial planning system.
The group maintained that numerous residents across Oxfordshire share their frustration and sense of unfair treatment by a process they have been expected to uphold.
The 2,000-acre development in west Oxfordshire, valued at £800 million, had been scheduled for determination this month.
However, Martin McCluskey, the minister responsible for local energy and employment, announced this week that the application would be rescheduled to November 10.
He explained that the deferral would allow his department and other stakeholders to examine additional documentation provided by the applicant.
The new deadline was clarified as having no implications for the ultimate outcome of the consent application.
McCluskey assumed the ministerial position in July 2026, having been appointed to the newly created role by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who defeated former Labour leader Keir Starmer in a leadership contest earlier in the summer.
Developers behind the proposed solar installation, which would span territories north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of Botley, responded positively to the news.
A representative for the company stated that the extended timeline would enable thorough examination of supplementary materials and ensure comprehensive assessment prior to reaching a determination.
The developer expressed confidence in the application’s merits, emphasising the extensive consultation and detailed technical and environmental review undertaken during its preparation.
The scheme is projected to generate up to 840 megawatts of renewable electricity, contributing to national energy security objectives and facilitating progress towards a low-carbon energy framework for the United Kingdom.
Simultaneous with the postponement announcement, the developer disclosed several modifications to the plans following discussions with Oxfordshire local authorities.
These adjustments encompass the elimination of approximately 130 hectares of solar panel arrays from the submission, targeted alterations designed to reduce effects on residential properties, and the establishment of minimum 100-metre buffer zones throughout the installation area.
Mark Owen-Lloyd, a director at Photovolt, observed that collaboration with local planning authorities and responsiveness to community concerns had informed these refinements, which were intended to achieve an appropriate balance between safeguarding residential and visual amenities and delivering a significant renewable energy initiative for the region and the nation.