Rampisham Solar Park
Clean energy delivered with care for Dorset’s rare landscapes
Rampisham Woods is a solar project shaped through close collaboration with environmental bodies to protect one of Dorset’s most important natural habitats. Today, the site generates clean, reliable power for more than 2,500 homes every year while safeguarding nationally significant grassland and enhancing the wider landscape. It stands as an example of how responsible solar development can deliver real climate benefits while protecting the places local communities value most.
Project timeline
Identify & survey
Finding the right land and grid connections, backed by in-depth feasibility and environmental studies.
Engage & tailor
Working with local authorities, parish councils, and communities to shape each proposal responsibly.
Approve & construct
Securing planning permission and delivering projects to the highest technical and environmental standards.
Operate & steward
Managing our sites for the long term, with biodiversity initiatives and a clear “leave no trace” approach.
How Rampisham Woods came to life
Rampisham Woods has a unique history shaped by its location next to the former BBC transmitter station and the nationally protected grassland at Rampisham Down. When planning permission was granted in 2016, it covered two sites: Rampisham 2 and Rampisham Woods. As policy requirements evolved, elements of the historic documentation were incomplete, and the team worked closely with planning authorities to move the suitable parts of the project forward.
Construction began in September 2023, with the site fully connected in 2025
Protecting nationally significant habitats
During early design discussions, advisers indicated that a solar farm could potentially be placed on Rampisham Down itself, despite its SSSI status. After further dialogue with Natural England, the team chose a different path.
Rather than progressing a called‑in planning application that risked harm to a nationally important grassland, the team worked with Natural England, Dorset AONB, Historic England and Dorset Council to identify a more suitable alternative at Rampisham Woods. This approach ensured that Rampisham Down would remain protected for the long term, while still enabling the delivery of clean, renewable power.
Through this collaboration, the project also secured wider community and environmental benefits, including:
- Removal of all but three remaining transmitter towers
- Long‑term management of an ancient deer park
- Biodiversity enhancements across the surrounding landscape
Nature protection and biodiversity
The Rampisham Woods site incorporates targeted ecological measures designed to enhance habitat connectivity and support species that thrive in open, managed landscapes. These include:
- Additional landscaping and hedgerow management to reduce visual impact
- Careful design that protects the setting of nearby Scheduled Monuments
- Continued agricultural use through managed livestock grazing
- Ecological enhancements for species such as skylarks, including dedicated skylark plots
These measures reflect a long‑term commitment to making sure solar and nature can coexist and support one another across Dorset’s distinctive rural landscape.