'We will remain vigilant': Residents celebrate as 600-acre solar farm plan near Shropshire town is dropped

The development, known as ‘Ironbridge Solar’, was proposed over nearly 600 acres to the south and south-east of Much Wenlock on the Bourton estate by Island Green Power. 

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Following news of the plans, local residents formed the Bourton Solar Farm Action Group to raise objections centred on the impact of the project on the local landscape, wildlife and loss of prime agricultural land.

The campaign group won the backing of local MP Stuart Anderson raised their concerns in the House of Commons at an Opposition Day debate on Wednesday, November 12 last year.

In the debate, the South Shropshire MP said: “I have not found one person in the constituency who wants to turn that land into a site for solar energy; it is only the landowner who wants to. If we put solar panels all over it, as part of the roll-out of solar at speed—the Minister has mentioned that the Government are going quicker—we will be doing so with no regard for local people and what they want for their communities.”

After bringing this plan to Parliament, the developers made contact with Mr Anderson to discuss the objections of the community.

Island Green Power have since decided to stop and plans for the development.

Dan Thomas, Councillor for Much Wenlock, said: “I am delighted the solar company has listened to the overwhelming weight of local concern and abandoned these plans. This project was simply the wrong development in the wrong place. While we all understand the need to combat climate change, it shouldn't come at the cost of our food-producing land and our historic landscape, and I would like to see more of a focus on solar panels on roofs, not farmland.

"We will remain vigilant to ensure Much Wenlock is protected from similar future proposals. I am incredibly grateful to Stuart for taking our fight straight to the floor of the House of Commons, giving this issue the coverage it needs. A special mention must go to the Bourton Solar Farm Action Group, which Stuart and I are both part of, who have worked tirelessly to fight against this."

Mr Anderson, who has met with local Much Wenlock councillor Dan Thomas, alongside local residents after plans for the solar farm were axed, said while he is grateful that the community was heard in this instance, he continues to be worried that the push towards solar energy by the current Government will see more developments proposed against the will of local residents.

The Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan set the ambition for the total installed capacity of solar installations to increase by over 2.5 times the level in March 2025 to reach 45-57 gigawatts of energy production. While Government guidance encourages the use of ‘previously developed and non-agricultural land’, it does not prohibit the development of agricultural land for a solar farm.