Report from Parish Council on Current Situation – Up to date facts

Solar Farms

Stowe-by-Chartley Parish Council set up the SOS Solar Farms Working group, to address the issues relating to the applications for Solar Farms proposed in the Parish.  The application for Lower Farm, Drointon was rejected by Stafford Borough Council and then allowed by the Government Inspector on appeal, and the application for Yew Tree Farm, Drointon is currently being processed. In addition, there is  a further application for a solar farm at Moreton Brook, Newton and there is the possibility of another development at Steenwood Lane, Blithfield.

The working group was set up, in July 2025, to address the many issues relating to the Solar Farms in the Parish. This working party is made up of six of the seven parish councillors, and a further four parishioners The group meets monthly and reports directly to the parish council.

What has the working party achieved so far:

• The parish council and the working party have made four major in-depth objections regarding Yew Tree Farm, to the Stafford Borough Council planning application 25/40571/FUL, which is still a pending application.
• Many of the above objections also relate to Lower Farm planning application 23/36938/FUL, which was originally rejected by Stafford Borough Council special planning committee, and approved on appeal by the planning inspector in January 2025.
• These objections involve one general objection and then a further three specific objections, which are in-depth studies regarding issues relating to highways, gypsum and salt mines and the BESS  Battery proposal. All these objections can be viewed on the Stafford Borough Council website under the application numbers listed above and links can be found on the parish council website under the red “ Solar Farm button” under “Objections and Concerns”.
• The Parish Council has also presented detailed objections to both above applications, and we continue to challenge these applications as we identify issues that we believe the developers are either misleading the planning office upon or are withholding information they feel may prejudice their applications.
• A further 3 objection letters were made regarding, the wrong address on the planning application for Yew Tree Farm, and we further complained regarding the confusing way in which the objections were displayed on the SBC website. We have also complained regarding 83 comments that were prepared by the company “Your Shout” which we understand is a client of “PUSH Generation and Supply Limited” all these objections were solicited by random letters and questionnaires of support for the planning application at Yew Tree Farm, by, knocking on doors in surrounding villages.

• The parish council made an early request to Cllr Frances Beatty our Stafford Borough Councillor “To call the planning application in” to be considered at a SBC special planning meeting. Please note this meeting, still has not been arranged, and for clarification no date has yet been set for the said meeting. We have requested that the parish council should be invited to speak at this meeting, in objection to the planning application.
• As a working party we have reviewed a document relating to a new further application number created for Yew Tree Farm on 26/41801/ESS, by Stafford Borough Council. This information relates to a submission by Third Revolution Projects, on behalf the developers. Push Generation and Supply Limited, addressing Yew Tree Farm Solar, Drointon, Staffordshire ST18 0LX; Request for an EIA Screening Opinion for Solar Farm and co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The working party has objected under the headings of “Substantial inaccuracies and Value-judgements”, which are unaccompanied by evidential support”. Our reply can be found on the Stafford Borough Council website under 25/40571/FUL and 26/41801/ESS there is a link on the Stowe by Chartley Parish Council website, under the red Solar panel button, go to “Objections and Concerns”.
• A second document has been re viewed by the working party relating to unstable land, gypsum and salt mines in the area, submitted by BWB Consulting Ltd on behalf of the developers Push Generation and Supply Limited, as a direct response to the PC letter of the 27^th August 2025. This document may not be deemed as totally independent as it was commissioned directly by the developers, however as a working party we welcome some recommendation from this report. The PC reply can be found on the Stafford Borough Council website under 25/40571/FUL, there is again a link on Stowe by Chartley Parish Council website, details to view this are as stated above.
• Letters to external bodies and organisations include, Push Generation and Supply Ltd (the developer for Yew Tree Farm), Novus Renewable Services (the developer for Lower Farm), National Gas Transmission, Health and Safety Executive, Natural England, and the Planning Inspector.
• Two open meetings have been held specifically to update parishioners with what we have been doing as a working party. We have welcomed several speakers, including our member of parliament Sir Gavin Williamson MP CBE. The previous open meetings can all be viewed if you go to stowebychartleyparishcouncil.gov.uk Under the Solar Farms button, under Meetings, Events and Video Presentations.
• A special meeting in May 2025, for councillors and clerks was hosted by Stowe-by-Chartley Parish Council to discuss ways in which we could share information regarding objections to Solar Farm planning applications.
• Another opportunity to update parishioners, will be made available at the Parish Meeting on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, in the Stowe by Chartley Village Hall, at 7.00pm.
• Representatives from the working party have twice met with senior planning officers from Stafford Borough Council, regarding the proposed Solar Farm planning application.
• Cllr Andrew Mynors our county councillor, invited two members of the working party to meet to discuss, the subject of BESS Battery storage and we also touched on issues relating to highways.
• Staffordshire County Council have also invited two residents to participate in a community film in March 2026, which will feature the problems cause by increased traffic on the local rural roads, and the issues relating to the unstable land relating to the planning application for both Lower Farm and Yew Tree Farm. The aim is to assess the effect on local residents and the upevil created in the general community because of the proposed Solar Farms.
• The working party has supported our county councillor, Cllr Andrew Mynors with his campaign entitled “Stop the Solar Land Grab” go to the link letstalk.staffordshire.gov.uk and sign up to support, this initiative.
• Several individuals within the area have submitted personal objections directly to the SBC planning website.
• We have organised an open letter for residents to sign on “Cumulative Impact”, and we have successfully submitted almost 300 of these letters to the SBC planning website, regarding Yew Tree Farm. Our aim is to hopefully support a further electronic parishioner’s letter of objection.
• The working party have contacted surrounding parish councils to support our objections regarding Yew Tree Farm, these parish councils include Blithfield, Hixon, Weston with Gayton, Kingstone and Milwich with Fradswell.
• Two residents have launched a SOS Solar Farm fund to help support the work of the PC working party. We are still taking donations, and any contributions will be very much appreciated. Our bank account details are “Solar Farms SOS – Stowe by Chartley” sort code: 60-83-01 account number: 20540265” and you can also donate in cash and by cheque. For further details email solarfarms-sos@stowe-by-chartley.co.uk and see stowebychartleyparishcouncil.gov.uk Under the Solar Farms button, under Donations.
• The working party have also prepared a residents guide to help parishioners prepare and submit their objections. This information can be found under the red “ Solar Farm button” on the PC website under useful information.
• A member of the working party reported the conditions of the local roads regarding subsidence and potholes; SCC Highways have measured cracks in the roads which is suspected as subsidence and are now monitoring the highlighted problem areas every 2 months.
• The errors made regarding Lower Farm, by officers working in the planning department at Stafford Borough Council, has been addressed.
• A member of the working party is acting in a co-ordinating capacity with the appointed SBC case officer.

The parish council working party will continue to highlight issues, which will directly impact parishioners, and they aim to keep local residents updated with their activities, as often as possible. Please check  for updates on our website www.stowebychartleyparishcouncil.gov under the red ” Solar Farms”, button.

Whilst solar farms remain a high-profile issue that the Parish Council feels it needs to support the parishioners in those affected areas, the Parish Council remains committed to support other concerns within the Parish such as speeding traffic, Heavy goods vehicle issues and the potential housing developments between Stowe and Hixon.

If you wish to make contact with the working party, who meet monthly, then please contact the clerk Sue Buxton on clerk@stowe-by-chartley-pc.gov.uk  or telephone 07398756549, or via the parish councils website the address is above  under the red ” Solar Farms”, your comments and views will be welcomed and discussed to further support the aims of the working party.