Solar farm build paused after grid hook-up setback

Plans to build a 43,000 panel solar farm in the coming months have been put on hold.

Wokingham Borough Council said it had made the decision to pause the build of Barkham Solar Farm in Berkshire - due to start in the spring - after the government revised its renewable energy timetable.

The council said although the initial 2027 date to connect to the national electricity system remained unchanged, full connection has now been delayed from 2028 to between 2031 and 2035.

The authority said as the delay created uncertainty about its output and potential income "it would not be responsible for us to enter a multi-million-pound contract and start construction at this time".

The solar farm on council owned farmland north of California Country Park, west of Finchampstead and to the south of Barkham had been estimated to produce enough electricity to cover the usage of more than 10,500 homes.

The council said it was challenging the changes and pressing for the original connection dates to remain in place.

Cllr Katrin Harding, executive member for environment and climate emergency, said: "This delay is not of the council's making. Barkham Solar Farm was ready to proceed, with planning, funding in place and a clear delivery programme based on connection dates that had already been agreed.

"We recognise that changes to the electricity connection system were needed to bring cleaner, secure energy online.

"However, it is particularly disappointing that a locally owned project like Barkham, which is ready to start construction, has been delayed - especially when more solar power is needed before 2030 and this scheme could help deliver it."

The authority added the delay was not a decision to stop the project and said it remained "fully committed to the project".