According to the REPD extract for July 2026, there is still no decision on Botley West: the application was submitted on 15 November 2024, and the record has not changed since 16 December 2024. Among solar applications awaiting a decision, this is the largest one.
Who decides
At 840 MW across 1,400 hectares, with Photovolt Development Partners and SolarFive as the applicants, the scheme is a nationally significant infrastructure project, so West Oxfordshire council does not decide it. The Planning Inspectorate (EN010147) examines the application, and the Energy Secretary grants the development consent order (DCO). The Inspectorate has 46 decided applications, a median of 73 weeks and 7% refusals (all decisions).
Why you should double-check the status
Of the records marked “awaiting a decision”, 32% were submitted more than two years ago, and only 37% were updated in the last 12 months. You can check the official status in the Planning Inspectorate record via the link on the page. There is no site map in the data; the mini-map only marks the register point. Nearby, The Flit (10.5 MW) is operational and Aurora Solar Farm (32 MW) is under construction, while Botley at 50 MW is a different project: it was refused.