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The examination continues ....
At the start of July, the Planning Inspectorate held four days of Hearings in Swindon as part of the Examination of the proposed Lime Down 500MW solar scheme. Stop Lime Down was consistently represented by our planning barrister and independent experts in landscape and visual effects, transport and ecology.
The week began with a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing, where landowners along the proposed 22km cable route raised their concerns and objections. This was followed by a second round of Open Floor Hearings, attended by Dr Roz Savage MP, representatives from Stop Lime Down and 23 local residents, who spoke powerfully about their concerns regarding the scale of the development, its potential effects on the Cotswolds National Landscape, and the loss of productive farmland.
The following three days focused on detailed expert evidence relating to landscape, transport and ecology. Once again, the scale and potential effects of the proposed development were closely examined.
Since those hearings, our legal and expert team has continued to work intensively in response to further questions from the Examining Authority. We have now passed the latest deadline for written submissions on 7 August, and the next deadline is 21 August 2026.
The next round of Hearings is scheduled to begin on Monday 14 September 2026, with further Hearings also taking place during the following week if required.
These Hearings are another important opportunity for the evidence and concerns raised by Stop Lime Down, local residents, landowners and other Interested Parties to be fully considered.
We will continue to keep supporters updated as the Examination progresses and will share details of the September Hearings as soon as they are confirmed.
We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our volunteers, experts, legal advisers, landowners and the wider community. Your support enables us to ensure that local voices and the evidence surrounding Lime Down are properly represented throughout this process.
Lime Down Solar Park
The proposed Lime Down Solar Park, an extensive 3,000-acre industrial facility, is being developed by Island Green Power, a Bermuda-registered company that is fully owned by the Australian venture capital firm Macquarie.
The development features thousands of solar panels, each towering 4.5 metres (13.5ft) high, alongside 42 acres allocated for battery storage containers, inverters, and substations. This entire setup is encircled by 3-metre fencing equipped with CCTV surveillance for enhanced security. Additionally, the project includes a 20km cable route to connect to the national grid, which tunnels beneath the M4 and a railway line, creating further disruption for landowners and nearby villages along its route.