South Cotswolds MP Raises Alarm Over Foreign Takeover of Controversial Solar Farm Developer

Dr Roz Savage MP has raised serious concerns following confirmation that Macquarie Asset Management has taken full ownership of Island Green Power, the developer behind the controversial 2,200-acre Lime Down solar farm proposed for North Wiltshire. 

The development, which would cover a vast swathe of countryside near Sherston and Hullavington, has already faced strong opposition from local residents, councillors, and campaign groups. Roz has been an environmental campaigner for over two decades, speaking out on climate change and other issues, and fully endorses the need to move away from fossil fuels. However, she has consistently spoken out against the Lime Down proposal, calling it “the wrong scale, in the wrong place, under the wrong kind of ownership.” 

In response to the news, Roz said: 

“This latest development only deepens my concerns. Macquarie’s ownership of Thames Water led to soaring debt, crumbling infrastructure, and increased pollution, hardly a reassuring track record. To now see the same company fully acquire Island Green Power, with no local accountability or long-term stewardship, is deeply troubling. 

“We’re talking about a huge industrial project in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on productive farmland, with no meaningful local benefit. Solar development should prioritise rooftops and brownfield sites, not fields.Communities across the South Cotswolds are rightly alarmed, and so am I. 

“I have raised this matter in Parliament and written again to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to request an urgent meeting. This isn’t just about one solar farm, it’s about the wider risks of handing key infrastructure projects to overseas investors with questionable track records.” 

Since entering Parliament, Roz has worked closely with the Stop Lime Down campaign, led a Parliamentary debate on solar farms on agricultural land, and hosted a cross-party roundtable on solar NSIPs (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects), drawing campaigners from across the UK. 

She has repeatedly called for reforms to the planning system to protect high-quality farmland, preserve rural character, and ensure local voices are heard. 

Roz is now awaiting a response from the Secretary of State and hopes this change in ownership prompts a serious re-evaluation of the Lime Down proposal and its wider implications. 

ENDS