A consultation is under way on revised plans for a solar farm which was unanimously rejected by a council last year.

West Oxfordshire District Council refused the scheme called Quarry Solar Farm on land between Hailey, Poffley End and New Yatt in December 2023.

Councillors criticised the original plans saying insufficient information had been submitted and its harmful effect on the rural landscape and recreation area would outweigh the benefits.

Oxford Mail: Site of proposed Quarry Solar Farm

Developer RWE Renewables said the farm would provide enough energy to power 15,000 homes annually and now wants feedback from residents before submitting plans to the council.

READ MORE: Murder-accused 'not accepted as transgender'

Updates include increased setbacks from the Hailey Conservation Area and the listed building nearby as well as pulling back panel areas to minimise disruption of views of the listed building from the footpath.

There are plans for a woodland belt along the proposed permissive path, reinstatement of the historic field boundary through hedgerows and creating bigger separation between the footpath and panels.

There would be a new native hedgerow to protect views from  Downhill Lane and increased unpanelled areas along New Yatt Road.

Bat and dormouse mitigation surveys will be carried out to ensure any impact on these species is even further limited.

RWE said the solar farm will be temporary and the site would be "preserved as greenfield before, during and after it is decommissioned".

It said agriculture, such as sheep grazing, will be able to take place on 95 per cent of the land while it is in use and the facility "will also allow the soil quality to improve over the solar farm’s lifespan".

The community benefits will include new green infrastructure such as picnic areas, an outdoor classroom and an educational trail and "a community benefit fund of up to £462,000 over the lifetime of the solar farm has been proposed."

Beehives, bat roost boxes and bird boxes are included in the plans along with hedgerow and tree planting to support wildlife and provide some screening.

RWE Renewables, a part of the RWE Group, said storage facilities will ensure that any energy generated is not wasted, and the battery storage will use lithium-ion batteries which are "an established, safe technology used in all manner of electronics".

READ MORE: Scales of Justice - results from Oxford Magistrates Court

Project manager Bente Klein said: ‘’These proposals are an excellent opportunity to help tackle the climate crisis and deliver on local and national energy targets.

“We have worked carefully to improve the scheme wherever possible and are pleased to be bringing forward these revised proposals to help support West Oxfordshire District Council in meeting its net zero carbon emissions targets."

The revised plans will be on show at a webinar at 6pm on Wednesday February 21.

The consultation is at www.quarrysolarfarm.co.uk until February 28.