Dorset Council explores major solar farm to power Dorset’s future

Dorset Council is bringing forward plans for a significant solar energy project at Higher South Buckland Farm, Chickerell - part of the council’s long-established Farms Estate.

If approved, the proposal would see the development of a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation of up to 50MW, making it one of the largest renewable energy projects on council-managed land in the south-west.

This clean energy scheme could generate enough electricity to power thousands of homes, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening Dorset’s energy resilience.

The site has already been identified as suitable for solar generation in the Dorset Council Local Plan options work. The design will respect the surrounding landscape, maintain Public Rights of Way, and deliver biodiversity net gain, ensuring the project supports nature recovery alongside renewable energy.

Higher South Buckland Farm is part of Dorset Council’s Farms Estate, which is managed under a new Farms Estate Strategy. The strategy recognises that some holdings are no longer best suited to traditional farming and require diversification to remain productive and deliver public value. This site has consistently produced low agricultural yields due to its soil quality and topography, making it increasingly uneconomic for conventional farming. Repurposing the land for renewable energy ensures it remains a productive asset for Dorset rather than lying under-utilised.

Rather than continuing with low-yield agricultural use or leaving land under-utilised, the solar farm proposal offers a way to:

• Generate clean energy locally, reducing carbon emissions and improving energy security.

• Create long-term income for reinvestment in the estate, helping address significant maintenance needs (estimated at £12 million over ten years).

• Support environmental improvement, including biodiversity net gain and soil health measures, in line with Dorset’s climate and nature recovery commitments.

• This approach is consistent with the council’s legal duty to manage assets responsibly and its ambition to innovate and diversify across the estate.

This initiative reflects Dorset Council’s wider priorities in the Council Plan, the Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Strategy, and the Economic Growth Strategy - combining climate action with economic opportunity. It also aligns with the aims of the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster, which seeks to position Dorset and the wider south west region as a leader in renewable energy innovation, attracting up to £28 billion of inward investment, create skilled jobs, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Councillor Nick Ireland, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding, said:

“This is about making smart use of our land to support Dorset’s future. By generating clean energy locally, we can improve resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and create economic opportunities for our communities.”

To deliver the scheme, Dorset Council is collaborating with Source Galileo, an experienced onshore and offshore renewable energy developer with expertise in solar, wind and battery storage technologies.

Gina Cassidy, COO of Source Galileo, noted:

“The opportunity to support Dorset Council in achieving its regional targets for reducing emissions whilst managing its assets responsibly and driving economic growth is an initiative we welcome. We aim to bring our development expertise to realise appropriately designed renewable energy projects on council land over the coming years”.

The proposal supports key council priorities, including:

• Energy resilience – producing local electricity to reduce reliance on external sources.

• Economic growth – attracting investment and supporting Dorset’s clean energy sector.

• Responsible land use – making productive use of council assets for community benefit.

• Environmental stewardship – enhancing biodiversity and supporting sustainable land management.

The next steps will include detailed design, public engagement, and submission for planning permission, where the project will be assessed against local and national policy.

Click to read the Cabinet paper in full