Controversial Dorset solar farm proposal worries residents and conservationists
A re-submitted plan for a solar farm near Maiden Newton is facing fresh opposition from countryside campaigners
Countryside lovers are once again objecting to plans to put an 18-hectare solar farm near Maiden Newton.
It comes after a renewed application for a 10MW solar farm at Cruxton Farm near Maiden Newton sparked concern among local residents, conservationists and walkers.
Ramblers Dorset say the application lacks clarity regarding footpath access and pedestrian safety, particularly around a route used for construction traffic.
Meanwhile, a local resident argued the solar farm would cause “unacceptable harm to the landscape, the setting of heritage assets and the land that forms as part of an area of outstanding natural beauty.”
The Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) also condemned the development, adding that was misleadingly labelled “temporary” despite a proposed 40-year lifespan.
A spokesperson for the group said: “The land is currently in agricultural use and we strongly suggest it stays that way. The landscape is of exceptional quality.
“The CPRE believes that solar panels should be placed on roofs as very few - less than 10% - are.
“This solar farm is not needed and will cause severe damage to the Dorset National Landscape – whose protection is vital to the wellbeing of all.”
The renewable energy firm, Enviromena - whose earlier application was rejected by Dorset Council and later overturned by a Secretary of State in 2024 following an appeal - says the new submission includes “meaningful changes” in response to planning concerns.
These include maintaining existing hedgerows, planting new ones, and enhancing biodiversity through wildflower meadows.
Access for construction would be via a farm track off the A35 and if approved, construction would last three months, with the land restored after four decades.
Dorset Council is expected to consider the application in the coming months, as the debate over balancing green energy with landscape preservation continues.