Plans to construct a large solar farm near the Somerset-Dorset border have been officially rejected following a public inquiry, much to the relief and joy of local residents.
Greentech Invest UK Ltd, based in Milton Keynes, had proposed the solar farm in June 2024 at Mahe Farm on Chard Lane, in the small village of Wayford, situated between Chard and Crewkerne. After Somerset Council delayed its decision, the company appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in November 2025, triggering a public inquiry held in Yeovil earlier this year.
Planning Inspector John Longmuir, after examining the site and hearing arguments from both the developer and the local Wayford Action Group, has ruled against the project. He cited the development’s potentially “intrusive” impact on the protected rural landscape as the main reason for rejection.
READ MORE: Road Safety Concerns Stall Approval of 60-Home Development in Westbury-sub-Mendip
READ MORE: Bath Rugby’s Tom Dunn Receives Brief Suspension Following Red Card Incident
The proposed site lies just north of Wayford Cemetery, near a key South Western Railway line, and adjacent to the Dorset national landscape—a designation formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The solar farm would have spanned approximately 26 hectares (over 64 acres), about the size of 36 football pitches, and was intended to generate enough electricity to power roughly 4,700 homes for 40 years.
In his detailed report, Mr Longmuir highlighted the area’s “undeveloped rural character, tranquillity and remoteness, dark night skies and panoramic views,” qualities that the solar farm would jeopardize. He described the fields’ convex bowl shape as forming an idyllic pastoral scene that is highly visible from multiple vantage points, including popular walking routes such as the Liberty Way, Monarch’s Way, and Jubilee Way.
The inspector also pointed out the risk the solar farm posed to several nearby heritage assets, including national trust-owned hill forts at Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon. These sites derive significant value from their surrounding panoramic landscape, which the solar farm’s presence would have diminished.
Currently, the land is used for deer grazing and has not supported arable farming for over 40 years, reducing its significance in terms of food production. Nevertheless, Mr Longmuir determined that the environmental and heritage harms outweighed the renewable energy benefits.
Members of the Wayford Action Group expressed their satisfaction with the decision. A spokesperson said, “Local residents are delighted the inspector chose to protect our landscape within the setting of the Dorset national landscape and preserve our heritage.”
This ruling marks a significant win for the community, ensuring that the area’s natural beauty and historical integrity remain intact for future generations.