A large-scale 40-acre industrial solar development is proposed on a prominent historic ridge on the Jolliffe Estate bringing the total proposed development area within the Coleford parish to 131.71 acres (53.30 hectares) or 75 full-sized football pitches!
The developer's public consultation drew overwhelming objections from the local community. This is the wrong site for solar.
The view the developer's leaflet doesn't show. From Ammerdown Column (Grade II*), the proposed 40-acre solar site would fill the foreground, with Downside Abbey (Grade I) on the skyline beyond.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
A new planning application proposes 40 acres of solar panels at Hackmead Farm, on the Jolliffe Estate, between Charlton and Holcombe. It includes security fencing, CCTV, access tracks and underground cabling that ties into the substation already approved next door at the Ash Farm solar development.
Together with the 16 acres already approved at Ash Farm, that is more than 56 acres of industrial solar on a single ridge — and the developer's leaflet does not make the connection clear. This is Phase 2 of a creeping development that was never disclosed in Phase 1. Where will it go next?
Map of proposed phase 2 development with proximity to local villages.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A landscape scarred for generations.
The site sits on an exposed ridge visible for miles: Westfield, Radstock, Charlton, Haydon, Kilmersdon, Writhlington, Peasedown St. John, and landmarks including Jack & Jill Hill and the Jolliffe Column.
Prime farmland inside a wildlife area.
Roughly a third of the site is Best and Most Versatile farmland. This high-quality land should be used for food security, not industrial development. It will also impact the protected wildlife that use this site.
The full extent of proposed developments within the Coleford Parish: 131.71 acres or 75 full-sized football pitches.
WHERE WE STAND
We support the principle of renewable energy projects, including ground-mounted solar schemes, but only on suitable sites where the impacts can be appropriately mitigated: balancing landscape, agriculture, ecology and the local community. The application is being put forward under the names Tyler Hill Consulting and Zenexa Renewables. The same people hide behind shell companies in multiple countries and are experts at playing the planning system: this is Phase 2 of a creeping development that was not disclosed when Phase 1 Ash Farm was approved. This development is driven simply by the desire for profits. Where will it go next?
This campaign is not anti-solar; it is anti-bad-siting.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Join our WhatsApp group so you get every update the moment it lands.
Email us to be added to the mailing list at: info@savehackmeadviews.com
Join the Save Coleford's Countryside Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SaveColefordsCountryside
Tell your neighbours! The single most important thing right now is to make sure no one in your parish hears about this for the first time after the deadline.
WHO WE ARE
We're a non-profit community group made up of residents of Kilmersdon, Charlton, Holcombe, Coleford and the surrounding parishes. We have no funding and no political affiliation. We're not anti-solar, we're pro-solar in the right places. If you have experience of community energy schemes, please email us: info@savehackmeadviews.com
View from site towards Charlton, Radstock and the Bath Roads
View to Ammerdown House
View to South View Cottages with Ammerdown column visible beyond
View to Charlton with Writhlington and Peasedown St. John visible beyond
View to Westfield
