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Welcome to the project website for Botley West Solar Farm.
You can find out information about the project across this website.
On 28 March 2025, the Planning Inspectorate published the Rule 6 Letter for the project, setting the preliminary meeting for the Examination period for Tuesday 13th May. Anybody who has registered as an Interested Party for the Examination or has registered updates from PINS (you can do so here) will have been notified of this letter.
Following the preliminary meeting, the first round of hearings will be taking place during the same week. All details can be found within the letter, which can also be found in our Document Library on this website.
You can continue to contact us by email, our freephone information line and by freepost. Our contact details can be found at the bottom of the page.
Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) is proposing Botley West Solar Farm, a new solar farm in the west of Oxfordshire.
Botley West could deliver 840 megawatts (MW) of clean, affordable power to the National Grid, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and improving UK energy security. The project will connect to a new National Grid substation, to be built by National Grid near Farmoor reservoir, to the west of Botley, hence the name Botley West.
Our Proposals
Botley West has an agreement to provide 840 MW of clean, affordable power to the National Grid, providing enough electricity for the equivalent of 330,000 homes.
Botley West has increased minimum buffer zone distances between solar panels and all buildings, as well as providing significant increases to the buffer zones near residential areas.
Botley West seeks to increase recreational use and access across the site through the creation of new footpaths and cycle paths.
Botley West now includes a Landscape and Ecology Masterplan and will deliver a minimum Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 70%.
Botley West is exploring a dynamic and wide-ranging community benefits package.
Indicative Project Timeline
September 2022
Early engagement with local authorities
November - December 2022
Phase One
Non-Statutory Consultation
January - June 2023
Refinement of proposals
June 2023
Scoping request submitted to PINS
July 2023
Consultation on the Draft SoCC with LPAs
November 2023 - February 2024
Phase Two Statutory Consultation and
publication of the SoCC and PEIR
Summer 2024
Targeted Consultation
December 2024
DCO application accepted by PINS
Q2 2025
DCO Examination
Q2 2026
Anticipated DCO decision from Secretary of State for ESNZ
Autumn 2028
Grid Connection Date