Oaks Farm Solar

Innova Renewables has submitted a planning application for a 28 MW solar site located on The Oaks, Stratford Road, Whaddon, Milton Keynes. The site will generate enough electricity equivalent to powering around 7,400 homes in Buckinghamshire Council each year whilst also preventing 6,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.  

 The site has been carefully selected and designed through a detailed assessment process considering grid availability, heritage, landscape & amenity, ecology & environmental designations, access, and agricultural land quality.  We have engaged a team of expert consultants to provide advice on the project. 

 An important part of the development process is to engage with the local community, and we hosted a drop-in event for residents on the 5th of July 2023 at The Whaddon Jubilee Hall, Stock Ln, Whaddon, Milton Keynes MK17 0LS. Please drop in anytime between 2-7pm. Feedback from this event was reviewed and the design was amended to incorporate these comments. 

 The UK has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050 and a target to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2035. The Proposed Development would support the UK’s transition to Net Zero and increase the use of renewable energy through supporting the availability of energy to the National Grid.

The UK has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050 and a target to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2035. This requires an extra 3GW of solar to be built each year. Renewable energy developments like Oaks Solar Farm are a key part of addressing the Climate Emergency. The development will serve a key role in this vital transition to renewable energy. 

Site Design

A pre-application engagement with Buckinghamshire Council was requested in May 2023. As part of this process planning officers seek the views of relevant statutory consultees and will provide feedback which will be fed into the design process.

The project is following an iterative design process and is being informed by an analysis of the site character, and environmental and physical constraints and opportunities, drawing on desk and field work by a team of experts.

A bespoke biodiversity strategy will be prepared that ensures existing and new habitats are enhanced or created to benefit local wildlife. As part of this initiative, our landscape planting, seeding and habitat creation plans will focus on native species. These initiatives will contribute to securing long-term biodiversity net gain across the site.

Site Access

The majority of vehicular movements associated with the development will occur during the construction phase, which is expected to take a maximum of 16 weeks. A temporary construction compound will be created towards the eastern boundary of the site. 

Construction vehicles will be required to follow routes and safety procedures set out within a Construction Transport Management Plan. 

Once the solar farm has been completed and is operational, there will be 1-2 visits a month for routine maintenance. 

A range of specialist consultants undertake surveys to be submitted with the planning application, to aid in the design process and to ensure the site is appropriate for development. The following surveys have been undertaken or will be undertaken as part of the planning process. 

• Flood Risk Assessment 

• Agriculture Land Classification 

• Construction Traffic Management Plan 

• Landscape and Visual Assessment 

• Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment 

• Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 

• Ecological Impact Assessment 

• Arboriculture Assessment 

• Noise Assessment