Conflict is brewing in the East Hampshire countryside between the push for renewable energy and the desire to retain the beauty of the landscape.

There are proposals for three more solar farms - to add to existing ones near Worldham Park Golf Club and Caker Stream - on land between East Worldham and Farringdon.

One of them, Copse Close - coloured yellow on the map below - already has planning permission. Plans have been submitted to East Hampshire District Council for the others at Caker Stream (green) and Chilberry (pink).

A map showing the existing, proposed and planning permission granted solar farm sites, October 21st 2026.
A map showing the existing, proposed and planning permission granted solar farm sites (Photo: SLR/JunoEnergy). (SLR/JunoEnergy)

The existing, proposed and planning permission granted sites total around 630 acres - the equivalent of 353 football pitches.

East Worldham resident Martyn Spice spoke to the Herald about the Chilberry plans from Conrad Energy, which comprise five areas of solar farm scattered over a wide area at Cakers Lane in East Worldham and Selborne Road in Selborne.

He also made his views known in a letter to Binsted, Bentley and Selborne ward East Hampshire district councillors Phillip Davies and David Ashcroft.

Mr Spice said: “If you look out to the south-east from Windmill Hill, my house is down there.

“The whole area from East Worldham to Farringdon will be covered in solar panels if the two current planning applications are allowed.

“We are all very cross about it because it will have a terrible cumulative effect on the area.”

The area that would be affected by the East Worldham and Farringdon solar farm proposals, October 21st 2026.
The area that would be affected by the solar farm proposals. (Martyn Spice)

Mr Spice claimed some of the district councillors disagreed with the plans and he felt this might help to at least get the scheme amended.

He claimed the applicant had taken photographs of trees and hedgerows which might screen the solar farm from view with their summer leaves and not in their bare winter state.

Mr Spice, who has lived in his home for 55 years, added: “One or two people’s objections are about two miles long.

“Our local parish council chairman suggested we try to highlight how serious this is for the whole area - there is a lot of tourism here, with Jane Austen and Gilbert White country, and the whole area will be ruined.”

The Herald has approached Cllrs Davies and Ashcroft for comment.

The full planning application can be viewed on the East Hampshire District Council planing portal under reference EHDC-26-1085-FUL. The consultation period ends on November 10.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

To see more planning applications in your area visit publicnoticeportal.uk