Mount Pleasant Solar Farm

Welcome to our website for Mount Pleasant Solar Farm

Belltown Power is pleased to be presenting their proposals for a renewable energy project on land 0.7 miles to the east of Swindon and 1.2 miles north of Wanborough village, Swindon. The proposed 35MWac solar farm would be able to generate enough green energy to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 16,000 homes for 40 years.

The planning application for Mount Pleasant Solar Farm is now live on the Swindon Borough Council planning portal, with the planning reference number: S/25/0666

To view the application on the planning portal, please follow the link below and search using the planning reference number, S/25/0666.

Simple Search

The Proposal

This site has been carefully selected to deliver clean, renewable energy while supporting biodiversity, ecology and the local community. The proposals are temporary, with the solar farm expected to operate for 40 years before being fully decommissioned. During this time, the land will maintain its greenfield classification and at the end of its lifespan, all infrastructure will be removed and the site can be restored to its original use.

The benefits of this important renewable energy project include:

Generating cheap, renewable energy to improve energy security and move away from the use of fossil fuels.
The proposed 35MWac, 150-acre solar farm would be able to generate enough green energy to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 16,700 homes.
The ability for continued agricultural use, such as sheep grazing, once the site is operational.
Considerable biodiversity and ecological benefits including new hedgerows, wildflower meadows and a community orchard.
A biodiversity net gain of 49%, almost 5 times the national requirement.
An outdoor classroom with picnic areas for the local community to use and enjoy.
Genuine benefits for local residents including a community benefit and education fund of £680,000 over the projects lifetime.

Get involved

Thank you for your responses to our public consultation. We will continue to consult with local stakeholders throughout the planning application process and take on any feedback received.

Please contact us via our project email mountpleasant@belltownpower.com if you have any quetsions or comments, would like to be kept informed of project developments or register as a local business.

The need for Solar

Global temperature change since 1850. Show Your Stripes - Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading)

We are facing an unprecedented global climate crisis driven by our continued reliance on fossil fuels. Over the past 50 years, weather-induced disasters have increased fivefold, highlighting the urgent need for action. The UK’s energy security faces growing challenges from volatile global fuel prices, supply chain disruptions and rising demand due to population growth.

Solar energy can support in addressing these risks by providing a stable, low-cost, home-grown source of renewable energy which enables us to reduce our reliance on imported sources of energy whilst simultaneously tackling the climate emergency. As the urgency to address climate change grows, renewable energy solutions like solar farms play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and supporting the transition to a net-zero future. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, they contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.

Recognising this urgency, Swindon District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, committing to policies that cut carbon emissions and enhance environmental sustainability across the region, with a target of becoming a carbon-neutral region by 2030.

This shift towards cleaner energy is already underway. In 2023, the UK saw a 22% decline in electricity generation from fossil fuels, reflecting a national movement towards low-carbon alternatives. With fossil fuel use expected to continue falling, developing new renewable energy projects – such as Mount Pleasant Solar Farm – are essential to bridging the energy gap and securing a stable, low-carbon power supply for the future.

"If we don’t act now, it’ll be too late. Every day that goes by in which we don’t do something about it is a day wasted."

Sir David Attenborough

Biodiversity and Ecology

At Belltown Power, we are committed to ensuring that Mount Pleasant Solar Farm not only generates clean energy but also enhances biodiversity and supports local wildlife. The project has been designed with nature in mind, incorporating measures to protect and improve the natural environment for long-term ecological benefits.

Existing hedgerows will be retained and strengthened, providing valuable habitats and natural screening. In addition, new hedgerows and native trees will further support birds, small mammals and insects, contributing to a richer and more diverse local ecosystem. More details of the proposed enhancement plan can be found in our planning application.

To encourage wildlife, the site will feature bird boxes, bat roost boxes, mammal gates, beehives and insect hotels, offering essential habitats for new and existing species. Wildflower meadows will create a thriving environment for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Sheep grazing may be used to managed grassland under the solar panels, allowing continued agricultural use and providing biodiversity improvements. By reducing pesticide use and adopting sensitive land management practices, we will ensure the site remains a biodiverse and ecologically valuable space while also producing renewable energy.

Community

We are committed to ensuring that this solar farm delivers meaningful benefits for local residents, including educational opportunities and enhancing publicly accessible open space.

By investing in community initiatives, biodiversity enhancements and sustainable development, we aim to create a lasting positive impact that extends beyond clean energy generation.

Community Benefit and Education Fund

The project will provide a significant community benefit and education fund of approximately £680,000 over the lifetime of the project, supporting local initiatives such as installing rooftop solar panels on community buildings, improving footpaths and funding conservation projects. We are keen to understand and explore potential initiatives of interest. We are happy to look at the timing of providing the funding, for example if there are high initial investment needs for a particular initiative.

At our Sawmills Solar Farm site, Ashcombe Village Club Committee have used the funds to build a microwave broadband mast for the community, dramatically improving broadband speeds for residents. The funding has also gone towards a new defibrillator and improvements to the village hall.

In addition to the above, we are committed to supporting the next generations in developing the skills and knowledge needed for a sustainable future. Our Belltown Power Education Programme currently supports 15 schools near our sites, with plans to expand as new projects launch. Over their lifetime, these projects will provide site visits, classroom activities and educational resources to over 10,000 children, inspiring future engineers, scientists and climate leaders. We also collaborate with higher education institutes on research, including studies on how renewable energy supports biodiversity.

Supporting the Local Economy

The project will contribute approximately £2.2 million in business rates to Swindon District Council over its lifetime, helping to fund essential local services and infrastructure.

Belltown Power supports local communities by prioritising nearby suppliers where possible. Services needed include construction, materials, plant hire, security, fuel, waste management and local hospitality. We encourage local suppliers to register their business via our project email mountpleasant@belltownpower.com to explore opportunities.

Timeline

March 2025

Public consultation

April 2025

Review feedback

Spring 2025

Submission of temporary planning application

Winter 2025/6

Expected planning determination

2027 onwards

Construction and energisation (subject to planning permission)

FAQs

Belltown Power carefully considers agricultural land classification when selecting sites, ensuring that what’s referred to as the best and most versatile (BMV) land is avoided where possible. Solar farms are typically placed on lower grade land, helping to protect prime farmland for food production. Furthermore, there are no suitable brownfield sites close to the agreed grid connection. A significant effort was also made to ensure the site selected would not border large residential areas to keep any visual impact to an absolute minimum for the local community.

Solar farms can support food security in several ways. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has acknowledged that climate change could reduce the stock of high-grade agricultural land by nearly three-quarters by 2050. Climate change is the biggest threat to food security and by delivering more green energy, we can reduce carbon emissions and mitigate against the effects of climate change. To meet the government’s net zero carbon emissions targets, solar farms would have to take up just 0.6% of the UK land area – this is less than the amount land currently used for golf courses.

This is a temporary planning application for 40 years. Due to the nature of the scheme, the land will be designated as greenfield throughout. We will ensure the site is fully decommissioned and returned to its current state, as per the planning permission would allow. The site will not be classed as industrial or brownfield during or after the site has been decommissioned.

We are committed to minimising disruption during the construction of all our renewable energy projects. This site will be accessed via Wanborough Road, turning into Horpit. The construction phase is expected to last 6–9 months, with further details outlined in the construction traffic management plan, which will be submitted as part of the planning application.

Yes we do, as there are several practical barriers to the mass rollout of rooftop solar. Firstly, the vast majority of buildings are in private ownership and there is no way to mandate the installation of solar panels. There is also the issue of scale and lack of available grid capacity. To meet national targets, the UK needs to increase its solar output fivefold to reach 70GW by 2035. The UK Warehousing Association has acknowledged that unused warehouse rooftops could generate around 15GW of solar power, with the remainder set to be delivered on sites like Mount Pleasant Solar Farm.

A community benefit and education fund is a voluntary commitment by a developer to contribute funding that directly supports local communities. This fund, totalling approximately £680,000 over the lifetime of the project, will be made available to local community groups, charities and initiatives, helping to deliver projects that benefit residents. The funding can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as improving local facilities, supporting educational programmes, enhancing green spaces or promoting sustainability initiatives. By investing in the local area, the community benefit fund ensures that communities near the development share in its benefits for years to come.

We are committed to working closely with local communities to shape the fund, ensuring it supports the projects and priorities that matter most to them. To ensure the funding is used in a way that’s most beneficial for the community we want to be flexible in how and when it is distributed, including offering front-loaded support for projects with high initial investment needs.

About Belltown Power

Belltown Power is an established UK based clean energy company at the leading edge of renewables project development in the UK. Founded in 2013 by a team of highly experienced renewable energy professionals, we have successfully delivered over 20 projects totalling over 200 MW of wind, solar and hydropower capacity across the UK.

Case study – Verwood Solar Farm

We are dedicated to ensuring that our renewable energy projects provide meaningful benefits to local communities. At Verwood Solar Farm in Dorset, an innovative educational programme has been in place since 2014, inspiring and educating young people about solar energy and sustainability. Over 2,000 young people have participated in site visits and workshops, with 43 school groups exploring the solar farm and a further 66 engaging in hands-on activities. These visits are tailored for nursery, primary, secondary and university students, providing real-world learning experiences.

Through interactive site visits, students bridge the gap between theory and practice, learning about solar energy and biodiversity. They have the opportunity to meet solar engineers, gaining insight into careers in renewable energy, and participate in hands-on activities linked to the national curriculum and climate science.

Beyond education, we are committed to enhancing biodiversity. An environmental management scheme is in place to improve habitats for birds, reptiles and invertebrates, ensuring a net positive impact on local wildlife. Annual surveys guide ongoing improvements, while lowland meadows at Verwood now support over 70 native plant species, providing vital forage for bumblebees and butterflies. Bug hotels have also been installed to attract more invertebrates, further enriching the ecosystem.