The final decision is being made on Thursday 11th June 2026

Hello,

Following our Change.org campaign at the start of last year, as one of the 1099 residents and supporters who signed the petition opposing the proposed Mousewell Farm and Pool Farm industrial scale solar development (next to Wapley bushes and throughout Besom Lane) we want to sincerely thank you for your support.

We now desperately need your help again.

Much has happened since then. Following the first planning committee meeting at the end of April 2026, local residents and supporters successfully persuaded the Development Management Committee to refuse the proposal by 6 votes to 1, with 1 abstention.

However, because the committee decision went against the planning officer recommendation, the application has now been referred to the Spatial Planning Committee for a final determination.

This is now the final and most important stage.

The Spatial Planning Committee members will attend a public site visit on Friday 29th May and then the final committee meeting will then take place on:

Thursday 11th June 2026
10:50am

Kingswood Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, BS15 9TR

If you are able to attend this meeting to show your support, it would be hugely appreciated. You don’t have to speak (we have that all in hand) but your presence to demonstrate the support of the community against this development will itself, speak volumes. We know it's difficult with busy lives and work commitments etc. We are hoping this might give you enough notice to make plans to attend? We don't know exactly how long it will last - based on the last meeting we think maybe 1-2 hours (but you can leave at any time).

To be absolutely clear, residents are not against renewable energy or solar power in principle. Our concern is the suitability of this particular Green Belt location.

The proposal would place industrial scale solar infrastructure and battery storage extremely close to residential homes and historic buildings, including Grade II listed Mousewell Farm and Grove Farm. In some locations the panels and associated infrastructure would be less than 10 metres from homes.

Residents are also deeply concerned about the cumulative impact of industrial-scale solar developments already approved or proposed across this part of South Gloucestershire, together housing developments. It increases development pressure on the remaining Green Belt countryside between Yate, Westerleigh and surrounding villages. Many local people feel this landscape, its openness and its historic setting are gradually being lost piece by piece.

This final decision will now be made by just seven committee members.

We have worked incredibly hard as a local group to get this far, and visible public support at both the site visit and committee meeting genuinely could make a difference.

If you think you may be able to attend we would be delighted to see you – If you have any questions at all, you can email us at letstalk@savemousewellfarm.co.uk. If you would like to provide a mobile number for updates and meeting details, we will keep you informed.

Thank you again for all your support so far.

Kind regards,

Residents Opposing the Mousewell Farm and Pool Farm Solar Development