Red Barn Solar Farm 

With growing competition for land for food production, biodiversity and carbon reduction and sequestration, Red Barn solar farm is an exemplar of multifunctional land use which combines these three objectives. After construction, up to 20% of the solar farm will be owned by the local community, greatly increasing the financial benefits for the local economy.

CONSTRUCTION update - September 2026

Due to circumstances beyond our control, construction has been delayed. We hope to be able to provide more clarity on the construction timetable in early 2027.

In the meantime, other activities may continue on site, including improvements to the site entrance, technical site investigations, and ecological and landscaping work. We are committed to minimising disruption and to keeping the local community fully informed as the project progresses.

Once full construction dates and details are confirmed, we will notify nearby residents and businesses directly via a mail drop.

If you have any queries, or would like to register for email updates, please contact RedBarnSolar@edenrenewables.com

SUPPLIER REGISTER

We are compiling a register of local suppliers, particularly for accommodation and transport services. If you are a local business that would like to be involved please let us know by email to RedBarnSolar@edenrenewables.com

KEY FACTS

Our application for a solar farm was approved by Wiltshire Council in January 2025.

The decision notice and planning documents can be viewed on the Wiltshire Council planning portal, reference PL/2023/08481.

  • Land east of Kington St. Michael, south of the M4 and adjacent to the A350

  • Capacity: 40MWac

  • Electricity generation equivalent to consumption of approximately 15,000 Wiltshire homes

  • CO2 savings approximately 13,700 tonnes annually (compared with gas generation)

  • Fixed tilt, bifacial solar panels

  • Lower height panels closer to Kington St. Michael

  • New hedgerows will be planted and existing hedgerows infilled to provide effective screening from Kington St. Michael

  • County Wildlife Site actively managed as hay meadow to encourage wildflowers

  • Continued agricultural use with sheep grazing and substantial biodiversity improvements

  • Agricultural Land Classification survey shows that 74% of solar panel area is Grade 4 land (poor quality), with 26% Grade 3b (moderate quality)

  • Biodiversity Net Gain 54% habitats, 22% hedgerows, 39% watercourses

  • Access via the A350 and Kington Farm, with 3 different access points, no construction traffic through the villages

  • Additional access via Day’s Lane for maintenance vehicles only.

  • On site construction expected to take 7-8 months with average 7 deliveries / 14 HGV movements to or from the site per day (revised May 2024)

  • Peak delivery period lasts 2-3 weeks with approximately 15 deliveries / 30 daily HGV movements spread across 3 site access points (revised May 2024).

FOR CLIMATE, NATURE AND PEOPLE

Click on map to enlarge

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

  • Community and educational benefit fund for local people of £19,000 per year, index-linked, for the 40-year project life

  • Separate education benefit fund of £5,000 per year, index-linked, for local school site visits and classroom sessions

  • Community and education benefit funds totalling almost £1 million over project lifetime

  • Over 3 km new permissive footpaths and bridleways to create circular routes

  • Permissive footpath parallel to stream to improve access

  • New 47-acre community access and biodiversity area in centre of site with community orchard, new trees, woodland and traditional pasture, new wildflower meadow, grassland managed to encourage wildflowers, picnic benches

  • Area near Kington St. Michael provided for allotments and off-lead dog walking.

SHARED COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

Shared ownership/community investment opportunity (up to 20%) through Zero North Wiltshire and Bath and West Community Energy; expected to generate additional community funds over £2 million for project life.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The solar farm was designed with substantial input from the local community. During May 2023 we invited the local community to attend a collaborative workshop known as an Enquiry by Design, with our specialists, in Kington St. Michael, to hear their views for the site and to work together on a design for the solar farm that minimised visual impact and maximised benefits. This is the first time this process has been used for a solar farm.

This was followed by a public exhibition and consultation to share the proposed detailed site design, inviting local residents to meet the team and provide further feedback.

GET IN CONTACT

If you have any questions or concerns, please email RedBarnSolar@edenrenewables.com or call 07887 211908.