Solar Farm Decision Will Not be Called-In

Published on: 10 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 11 Mar, 2025

By Martin Giles

The decision to grant planning permission for a Solar Farm at Blackwell Farm will not be “called-in” for reconsideration, the Secretary of State for Housing Communities & Local Government, Angela Rayner, has announced.

Permission was given in November for a new 43-hectare solar farm with 22,410 solar panels on land designated green belt and, partly, an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), to the west of the University of Surrey. This was in the face of considerable opposition.

Subsequently, a request for the decision to be called-in for reconsideration by the Secretary of State was made by Compton Parish Council and supported by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the MP for Godalming & Ash, Jeremy Hunt.

Jeremy Hunt MP

Expressing disappointment with the decision, Mr Hunt said he had supported the call-in request because of both the prominence of the site and because some of it is “emerging” National Landscape land – i.e. some of the land has been recommended for inclusion in the Surrey Hills National Landscape as a part of the expansion consultation.

Mr Hunt said: “The deadline for the Surrey Hills National Landscape ended in early December and we are awaiting confirmation of next steps from DEFRA.”

See: University Will Get Its Solar Farm Despite Widespread Objections

Letter from the Secretary of State to GBC giving her decision not to call in the Solar farm decision.

At the time of GBC’s Planning Committee decision, both Zero Carbon Guildford and the Guildford Chamber of Commerce expressed support for the Solar Farm proposal.

Louise Punter, CEO of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, said: “We supported the application on economic and sustainability grounds.

“We were very pleased to see a very thorough report considering all the facts, and a thorough and balanced debate at GBC’s Planning Committee.”

Today a  Guildford Labour spokesperson, pleased with the latest announcement, said: “This is very exciting and it is quite correct from the Secretary of State. This solar facility will not only supply the University of Surrey with the majority of its electrical power but will be the largest generator of clean energy in our county.

“The farm will be barely visible and make great use of what would otherwise be an area of unused land. Guildford Labour have been unequivocal in their support and it’s gratifying to see that it will now go ahead.”

Cllr Philip Brooker

But Cllr Philip Brooker, leader of the Conservative Group at Guildford Borough Council, was unhappy with the news. He said: “It is regrettable that this Lib-Dem supported development, which was opposed by Conservative councillors, will be allowed to proceed.

“The Labour government has made clear its intention to ‘build, build, build’, therefore it is no surprise that the objections of residents and countryside bodies are being ignored, to the detriment of our much-valued Surrey Hills National Landscape.”

See more stories on the Solar farm proposal here.

GBC, the Residents for Guildford & Villages and the Guildford Greenbelt Group were also invited to comment.

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