Help to shape how communities could benefit from future low-carbon energy projects in Oxfordshire

Residents, community groups, parishes, businesses, landowners and energy developers are being asked their views on a proposed countywide approach to community benefit contributions and community shared ownership from some large-scale low-carbon energy projects.

A consultation on private, for-profit schemes is being run jointly by Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council and runs from 12 May - 14 June 2026.

People can read the consultation documents and complete the questionnaire through the online consultation portal Let’s Talk Oxfordshire.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Oxfordshire has huge potential to play a significant role in the move towards cleaner, more secure energy. But it is also important that our communities have a voice in how the benefits of that transition are shaped and shared.

“This consultation is about listening early. We want as many people as possible to tell us what a fair and practical approach should look like.”

Across Oxfordshire, more renewable energy and battery storage projects are expected to come forward over the coming years as part of the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system.

Oxfordshire’s councils want to make sure that where communities host large-scale low-carbon energy infrastructure – such as ground mount solar, batteries or wind – there is a clearer, fairer and more consistent way to discuss long-term local benefits.

The proposed interim policy does not determine how much renewable energy is built in Oxfordshire. Planning decisions are made entirely on their own merits by local planning authorities and the government.

The proposed interim policy is attempting to ensure that where projects are approved, communities have an opportunity to get a fair share of negotiated benefits. The policy will provide a shared framework for how councils, communities and developers can discuss voluntary community benefits and shared ownership separately from planning decisions.

Community benefit contributions are payments or other forms of support offered by developers to communities hosting low-carbon energy infrastructure to secure local value from hosting. These contributions can support local priorities such as community facilities, nature recovery, energy efficiency, skills, fuel poverty reduction, or other projects identified by communities.

Community shared ownership is where communities may have the opportunity to take a financial stake in a renewable energy project, allowing more of the value created by clean energy infrastructure to be retained locally.

The consultation is open to everyone, including residents, parish and town councils, community organisations, energy developers, landowners, local businesses, investors, infrastructure providers and other interested stakeholders.

Feedback received through the consultation will be used to inform the final version of the interim policy before it is considered by each council throughout the summer.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.