Object to the Wisborough Green Solar Farm Proposal

A major industrial-scale solar farm is being proposed between Loxwood and Wisborough Green, with far-reaching consequences for our rural way of life.

If approved (Planning Ref: 25/00658/FUL), this development will place the safety of vulnerable road users at serious risk, damage our local bridleway network, and permanently alter the character of our countryside.

The proposal involves installing thousands of tall reflective panels (up to 2.95m high), security fencing, gravel access roads, inverter cabins, and CCTV across currently productive farmland. While marketed as a “green” project, in reality, this is speculative development that will benefit investors—not our local community. The electricity generated will not power local homes but will feed into the national grid.

Safety Concerns During Construction

One of the most pressing issues is the impact on road safety during the construction phase. Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be using our narrow country lanes, particularly Drungewick Lane, which is wholly unsuitable for such traffic. The presence of large construction vehicles will increase the risk of accidents, damage to verges and hedgerows, and serious congestion.

More alarmingly, vulnerable road users—walkers, cyclists, and especially horse riders—will be exposed to significant danger. Horses are easily spooked by noise and unpredictable vehicle movements. Construction noise, unfamiliar machinery, and high-speed site traffic pose genuine threats to rider safety, with the potential for serious injury. Loxwood and Wisborough Green are both known for their bridleway networks, which attract residents and visitors year-round. These routes are at risk of closure or diversion during construction, severing safe off-road access and disrupting the local equestrian economy.

Loss of Bridleway Access and Rural Tranquillity

Temporary diversions of footpaths and bridleways may last months or more. This undermines their core purpose: safe, accessible, and peaceful routes through the countryside for leisure, exercise, and wellbeing. These paths are not just recreational—they are an essential part of parish life, used by

riders, dog walkers, families, and visitors. The construction and long-term presence of an industrial solar installation will have a permanent negative impact on the quality and safety of these routes.

Once operational, the site will still be enclosed with high fencing, surveillance equipment, and vehicle tracks—changing the landscape from open countryside to industrial zone. This is not the right place for such a development.

A Call to Action

We are not opposing renewable energy—we are standing up for sensible, safe, and appropriate planning. This solar farm poses unacceptable risks to public safety, damages the character of our parish, and weakens our local infrastructure. Your voice matters in this process.

How to Object

You can view the application on the Chichester District Council Planning Portal here: https://publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application by typing in the reference in the search field: 25/00658/FUL.  You can either submit your objection / comments via the planning portal or by email to dcplanning@chichester.gov.uk quoting Planning Reference: 25/00658/FUL.

Include:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Reasons for objecting (e.g., safety risks to horse riders, footpath disruption, HGV unsuitability, loss of valuable productive farm land, etc.)

Please share this with friends, neighbours, and fellow residents. The deadline for objections is fast approaching – 22 August 2025.

Together, we can protect our community, our safety, and our countryside.

Phil Ingham, WG and Loxwood Solar Farm Protest Group