Tell Blenheim to Make Botley West Solar Farm Fair

As the main landowner, Blenheim Estate has the power to influence what kind of deal the community gets. We’re calling on them to use that power to secure something fairer.  

That means standing up for the people who will live alongside this development – and demanding an outcome that reflects the scale of the project and delivers lasting benefits.  

We’re asking for 2% of the project’s revenue to be invested directly into local communities because we feel this is a fair and realistic target for all parties. Having a percentage means a funding stream that grows with the project’s success – not a one-off figure that isn’t linked to the actual revenues of Botley West.

Our very conservative figures show that in the first year 2% of revenue would create £840k in community benefit. This is four times more than what is currently being discussed between solar developers and government.

However, our understanding from the industry is that revenues of £100m per year are likely – 2% of which would create £2 million in community benefit. However, if managed well we think the actual revenue should be much higher than this.

Until the project is up and running, it’s very difficult to know what the revenue will be. Our proposed 2% of revenue model ensures communities receive a fair and proportionate benefit, one that is tied to the actual performance of the project – if that does well, then communities also benefit.

We’re not normally a campaigning organisation – but we feel that this is so important on a local (and national) level that we must take action.

We have over a decade of experience of delivering solar installations across Oxfordshire – with 100% of our project surplus being invested back into the community. This experience shows that renewables can benefit everyone, and we are passionate about ensuring the transition to a zero-carbon energy system is a fair one.

No, Low Carbon Hub will not benefit financially from an improved offer of community funding. Nor are we seeking to gain any percentage of community benefit funds ourselves.

However, as experts in delivery community benefit through our own renewable portfolio revenues, we could offer to administer the community benefit, at no fee or cost.

Low Carbon Hub has taken a neutral stance towards the Botley West proposal as a whole. Our aim has been to help local communities access further information relating to the potential impacts and benefits of the scheme to inform their own response to formal consultations. We have been acting entirely independently from the project.

There are more large-scale solar projects planned across the country. We want to help communities everywhere benefit from a better community benefit outcome. Getting this right here in Oxfordshire could help create a framework for what happens nationally. You can see the full list of large-scale projects and filter by solar here.

We think a board should be established, including representives from the community, to establish the best way to use the community benefit funds according to the needs of the community.

West Oxfordshire District Council is supporting 15 parishes to get together and negotiate for a community benefit deal from the developers. We hope to complement their great work with this petition as we feel it’s important to ensure we are looking at all possible avenues to get a better deal for local communities.

We won’t use or share any of the data we collect in the petition unless this has been anonymised, or you give us your permission to share a quote supporting the petition. All of the data we collect will be stored in accordance with our privacy statement here.