Swallett Energy Park

Swallett Energy Park is a ground mounted solar farm with the option to add co-located battery storage. The project will connect via a buried cable into the local grid at Lyneham substation, located just to the east of the site.

The site comprises of one parcel of land located between the M4 motorway and the railway line between Chippenham and Swindon. The project is west of Dauntsey Lock and northeast of Christian Malford.

Exagen have now submitted a full planning application to Wiltshire Council.

Any representations or comments on the application from interested parties should be submitted directly to the Council using the online form under the ‘Comments’ section reference number PL/2023/10077.

Latest updates

  1. 3 Sep 25

    Appeal Submission and Consultation

    Exagen Development Limited (the ‘Applicant’) is in the process of submitting appeals to the Planning Inspectorate, against the refusal by Wiltshire Council for our Swallett Energy Park situated on Land West of Lyneham Substation, West of Dauntsey Lock, Wiltshire.

    This update is to notify the public of the consultation and to provide the contact details on how you can find out more and make comments.

    This consultation is being facilitated by Exagen Development Limited and responses to this consultation will be shared with the Inspector who will consider the Appeal. Comments will be in the public domain and may be referred to during the Appeal.

    Planning Application: Wiltshire Council PL/2023/10077

    Appeal Reference: Wiltshire Council Appeal AP-37471

    PINS Reference Number: APP/Y3940/W/25/3371113

  2. 19 Mar 25

    Wiltshire Council Refusal

    Planning application refused on 19th March 2025.

    Planning Reference Number: PL/2023/10077

  3. 2 Dec 24

    Amendments to the applications

    Exagen have made amendments to the application and resubmitted documents to Wilsthire Council under application number PL/2023/10077.

    The key updates are:

      • Panels in Field 2 were removed from the section directly south of the Grade II listed Great Ridgeway Farmhouse. A historic hedgerow has then been reinstated. Access tracks and inverters within this field have also been revised.
      • Panels in Field 10 have expanded towards the western boundary in order to offset some losses by the panel reduction in Field 2 and panels have been expanded towards the road, in the northern part of Field 2. Fencing has also been adjusted, alongside landscaping.
      • The track in Field 1 has been re-aligned to minimise the length in the area of higher archaeological potential. There is a short section which remains and if necessary, a floating design could be applied to this to avoid substantial sub ground excavation. A small section of track was also removed in the north of Field 3.
      • The two inverter/ transformer containers that were in Field 1 have been relocated to outside the area of higher archaeological potential. These components require concrete foundations and therefore excavations so removing these from this area reduces the level of sub-ground impact.
      • Landscaping has been updated in line with the layout changes which includes a new field of tussock grassland, the reinstatement of the historic hedgerow (as noted above) and the addition of some hedgerow trees to increase the biodiversity value of the hedgerow.

    Any questions regarding the development can continue to be directed to the project team: swallettenergypark@exagen.co.uk

    Link to the application – https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0i3z00001CF19qAAD/pl202310077

  4. 5 Dec 23

    Confirmation of application

    Exagen have now submitted a full planning application to Wiltshire Council.
    Any representations or comments on the application from interested parties should be submitted directly to the Council using the online form under the ‘Comments’ section on the application link, or in writing by letter (Wiltshire Council, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN) or email  developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk
    quoting the application reference number PL/2023/10077.

    Any questions regarding the development or suggestions around community initiatives can continue to be directed to the project team:
    swallettenergypark@exagen.co.uk

    Please find the relevant link to the planning application below.

    Link to Planning Application

  5. 16 Jun 23

    Project Non EIA

    Wiltshire Council provided their EIA Screening Opinion following our request which confirms that the development is not considered EIA development and the planning application does not require an Environmental Statement be submitted as part of the planning application. This confirms that the development is not likely to have significant effects on the environment.

    That said a robust assessment of potential environmental effects arising from the Development, and any required mitigation, will be undertaken and the following technical reports will be submitted as part of the planning application: Landscape and Visual Appraisal with Landscape Mitigation Plan, Heritage Statement (including geophysical survey), Ecological Impact Assessment, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Transport Statement/ Construction Traffic Management Plan, Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy and Glint and Glare Assessment.

  6. 14 Jun 23

    News update

    Following public consultation the decision has been made to remove the battery element of the project.

    The Swallett Energy Park will now be solar only.

  7. 4 May 23

    Public Exhibition

    Christian Malford Village Hall

    Station Rd, Christian Malford,Chippenham SN15 4BL

  8. 3 May 23

    Public Exhibition

    Wednesday, 3rd May 2023, 4.30-8pm

    Bradenstoke Village Hall
    Bradenstoke, Chippenham SN15 4EL

Benefits

Solar

23MW

The solar farm will have an export capacity of 23MW

UK homes

9,400

The solar farm power the equivalent to the annual electricity usage of 9,400 UK homes.

Hexagon shape

Meet the team

  • Andrew Mott Head of Planning and Environment

  • Sam Warne Community Engagement Manager

  • Chris Featonby Senior Development Manager

Contact

Your feedback is very important to us. Please feel free to contact us here, quoting the name of the project you are referring to and one of our project team will get back to you as soon as possible.

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