Two major solar farms proposed in Dorset could power more than 70,000 homes
Two new solar developments are being planned in Dorset, one off the A37 near Yetminster and another near Shaftesbury
Plans for two new solar energy developments in Dorset have been unveiled, with developers claiming they could generate enough electricity to power more than 70,000 homes.
The larger of the two proposals would see a vast solar farm built across 13 fields near Yetminster, just off the A37 Dorchester to Yeovil Road.
The scheme, put forward for land at Caswell Farm on Common Lane, could deliver up to 400 megawatts of power across around 70 hectares, alongside a 20MW battery energy storage system.
If approved, more than 1,100 solar panel racks would be installed across three areas, supported by eight container-style battery units, water storage tanks and a new substation.
Electricity would be fed into the National Grid to the north of the site via a one-kilometre underground cable, connecting to an existing overhead line.
Developers say the site lies outside the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the nearest boundary around 250 metres away.
Dorset Council has been asked for its early opinion on the project’s potential environmental impact ahead of a full planning application.
Meanwhile, a second solar scheme near Shaftesbury is already facing significant local opposition.
Proposals for a 12MW solar farm on land south of Motcombe Road, close to Port Regis School, would cover more than 27 hectares.
However, dozens of residents have objected, with both Shaftesbury Town Council and Motcombe Parish Council opposing the plans.
Concerns centre around environmental impact and views across the surrounding countryside, including sightlines from the Castle Hill ancient monument.
Shaftesbury Town Council has warned the development could harm tourism, while Motcombe Parish Council says the area is already home to a large solar farm at King’s Court.
“A second will add further industrialisation and loss of rural identity,” it said, describing the site as an important rural buffer between the expanding towns of Shaftesbury and Gillingham.