A vast solar farm could soon reshape a significant stretch of the scenic Somerset Space Walk, raising concerns among locals and heritage advocates alike. The Somerset Space Walk, following the historic Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, spans from near Maunsel Tea Rooms to key locations at the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton and Bridgwater’s Morrisons supermarket.
Renowned for its rural charm, the canal is a popular spot for walking, cycling, paddle-boarding, and other leisure activities. The Canal and River Trust maintains this natural asset, while Somerset Council has planned enhancements at the canal’s ends as part of broader efforts including the Taunton waterways strategy and the government-backed Bridgwater town deal.
However, these plans may clash with a proposal from IBV Fordgate Solar Ltd., based in London, to develop a solar farm covering 94 hectares (232 acres) of active farmland at Fordgate Farm in North Petherton parish. Equivalent in size to 130 football pitches, this project could dominate the area between the Saturn and Uranus markers on the Space Walk’s western canal side.
The solar installation would be accessed from Park Lane, near the upcoming North Petherton medical centre, and is anticipated to generate enough clean energy for approximately 13,500 homes — about one-third of Bridgwater’s population. The developer highlights that the solar farm would operate for up to 40 years before the site is restored to agricultural use, and would help avoid around 8,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Despite approval by Sedgemoor District Council for a separate nearby solar project at Impens Farm in late 2022, that scheme has yet to proceed. The Fordgate site comprises Grade 3b agricultural land, considered suitable for farming but affected by wet conditions due to proximity to watercourses and low-lying terrain.
The Canal and River Trust has voiced concerns that the solar farm could significantly detract from the canal’s appeal for tourists and local users. Jane Hennell, an area planner for the Trust, emphasized that visitors who walk, cycle, or paddle along the tow-path experience the environment slowly, meaning the visual impact of such a large solar array would be prolonged and unavoidable.
Community voices have also expressed unease. North Petherton resident Janet Collingwood warned the project would undermine the area’s character and natural beauty. Meanwhile, Bridgwater locals questioned the economic benefits for residents, with Andy Anderson pointing out that green energy projects have not translated into lower electricity bills. Ian Norton, an employee at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, condemned the use of farmland for solar development as “absolutely scandalous.”
Somerset Council’s planning officers recently approved the initial screening and scoping application, allowing IBV Fordgate Solar Ltd. to submit detailed proposals expected before Christmas. A final planning decision is anticipated by spring 2026, leaving the fate of the canal-side landscape uncertain amid a complex balancing act between renewable energy development and preserving Somerset’s treasured rural heritage.