Chris Rokos, billionaire hedge fund manager and owner of the sprawling 100-bedroom Tottenham House near Marlborough, has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council to install a large solar farm on 40 acres of land within the historic Savernake Estate. This bold initiative aims to merge heritage with sustainability by bringing renewable energy to the 18th-century estate.
The proposed solar installation, located at North Park on the estate’s northern boundary, would feature a 688-kilowatt array intended to supply around one-third of the estate’s electricity demand. The land, currently used as pasture for dairy cows and silage production, is adjacent to a public footpath linking Durley and St Katharine’s Church and primary school but is shielded from view by existing vegetation.
Alongside the solar panels, the plan includes building a drainage lagoon and soakaway system designed to capture and store winter rainfall for summer use, enhancing the estate’s water sustainability.
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Rokos’s representatives emphasize that the project is part of a broader strategy to secure the long-term, sustainable future of Tottenham House and its surrounding estate. By adopting renewable energy and improved water management, they aim to maintain the estate’s functionality while respecting its historic character.
Wiltshire Council is expected to deliver a decision on the planning application by July.