Barkham Solar Farm: A Green Future Begins!

A huge solar farm the size of 74 football pitches is set to be built in Barkham after years of planning and delays.

Construction on Barkham Solar Farm is due to begin next month after Wokingham Borough Council signed a contract with Equans to deliver the scheme on council-owned farmland off Barkham Ride.

The site is expected to start generating electricity next year and will produce enough renewable energy to power around 9,400 average UK homes. The 52-hectare facility, north of California Country Park, will generate around 31,000MWh of electricity each year.

Council leaders say the project will also provide more than £1 million a year to help fund local services once financing costs have been met. Planning permission was granted in 2022 but the scheme was delayed by changes to National Grid connection rules.

The development forms a key part of Wokingham Borough Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan and wider efforts to cut carbon emissions across the borough.

"Signing this contract is a major milestone for Barkham Solar Farm and an important step forward for the council. We know residents expect us to tackle climate change while also protecting the services they rely on, and this project helps us do both. Once operational, the solar farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power around 9,400 homes and provide more than £1 million a year in income to help support essential council services at a time of significant financial pressure."

The scheme will include around 43,000 solar panels, with security fencing and access arrangements.

Plans include a new greenway linking Barkham village with California Country Park, providing a traffic-free walking and cycling route connecting communities including Arborfield and Finchampstead, and a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing on Barkham Ride.

Environmental improvements will include 2.66 hectares of new woodland, meadow grassland, hedgerows and tree planting. The council has also worked with local charity Freely Fruity to plant around 1,000 fruit trees on the site.

"Barkham Solar Farm is a strong example of that approach. It will generate clean energy locally, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and support nature through new woodland, trees, hedgerows and grassland."

The council said it would provide updates throughout construction, including details of any disruption to journeys in the area.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter