Dorset Council is set to develop plans for one of the largest renewable energy schemes on local authority land in south-west England, following approval from councillors. The proposed solar project at Higher South Buckland Farm in Chickerell aims to support net-zero energy targets, generate investment, and create jobs in the area.
A council report highlighted that the 60-hectare (140-acre) site is increasingly unsuitable for conventional farming due to poor soil quality and challenging topography. The plan is part of a wider strategy to explore renewable energy opportunities on council-owned land, including potential installations on car parks and other properties.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors also backed a strategic partnership with UK-based renewable energy developer Source Galileo. The collaboration will see the company lead the development of the Chickerell solar scheme and explore additional projects across the council’s estate, which includes 41 farms covering a total of 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres).
Councillor Ryan Hope said the solar farm could be designed to allow continued farming, with grazing and livestock still possible on the site. He added: “We need to look at green energy, not just to support the council’s net zero targets but to stabilise this country and reduce the reliance on gas.”
If approved, the scheme would mark a major step in Dorset Council’s push towards renewable energy and demonstrate how local authority land can be repurposed to benefit both the environment and the local economy.
