Executive decision due on long-delayed project
Wokingham Borough Council’s proposed Barkham Solar Farm is back on the table, with officers advising elected members to move ahead this summer after a six‑month pause. The scheme, which was put on hold in January following changes to the national renewables timetable, is now slated to begin on-site works as early as September 2027 if the council’s executive gives approval at its meeting on 30 July.
Scrutiny councillors reviewed the latest business case and delivery risks at a session on Monday. The project would occupy council-owned farmland north of California Country Park, to the west of Finchampstead and south of Barkham, and is designed to produce enough low‑carbon electricity to supply around 9,400 homes each year.
Revised grid pathway and financial outlook
A staged connection to the electricity network underpins the new timetable. Officers say the solar array could operate initially on a non‑firm connection—meaning output may be curtailed when the local grid is constrained—before moving to a firm, guaranteed capacity by 2029. The council anticipates only very low curtailment in the interim, estimated between 0.04% and 0.06% of potential generation.
The financial model points to a projected annual surplus of at least £1 million across a planned 40‑year operating life. Officers warn that deferring beyond this summer would expose the authority to higher costs and the risk of less favourable commercial terms, as well as pushing the construction start into spring 2028.
| Element | Current expectation |
|---|---|
| Construction start | September 2027 |
| Initial grid status | Non‑firm (curtailment allowed) |
| Curtailment range | 0.04%–0.06% |
| Firm connection | 2029 |
| Annual surplus | At least £1m |
| Operational life | 40 years |
| Equivalent homes powered | About 9,400 per year |
Why the decision matters locally
The site’s location adjacent to California Country Park and near Barkham and Finchampstead means surrounding communities will be close to construction activity as well as benefiting from the long‑term income and clean power the project is intended to deliver. The authority argues that locking in current prices and contractor availability now is crucial to avoid cost escalation that could erode the scheme’s surplus and delay carbon‑cutting benefits.
Postponement earlier this year, prompted by changes to national grid connection sequencing, reflected concern over committing to a multi‑million‑pound contract without guaranteed capacity from day one. Officers now contend that a short period of non‑firm operation—with modest curtailment—offers a workable bridge to the firm 2029 connection while keeping the programme on track.
Earlier this year the council said the lack of certainty about the full connection meant it would not have been "responsible" for it to start the "multi-million-pound contract".
In updated papers, officers caution that declining current offers could lead to price repricing and inflationary pressures. Accepting this summer, they say, would “enable energisation at the earliest opportunity and avoid the financial and programme impacts associated with delay”.
Next steps and how residents can engage
The decision now rests with the council’s executive on 30 July. If members agree to proceed, preparatory work would commence ahead of a 2027 start, with the solar farm expected to transition to a firm grid connection in 2029. Residents can follow the agenda and reports through the council’s democratic services webpages and attend or watch the meeting where the project’s future will be determined.
- Executive decision scheduled: 30 July
- Proposed build start: September 2027
- Firm grid connection targeted: 2029
For communities in Barkham, Finchampstead and the wider borough, the outcome will set the course for a major renewable infrastructure project with implications for local finances, carbon reduction and the borough’s energy resilience over several decades.
