Brief
Billionaire Chris Rokos wins planning permission for solar farm at Tottenham House
The scheme will generate about 795,000 kWh a year, with 44% used on‑site and the rest fed into the grid.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Hedge‑fund billionaire Chris Rokos has secured planning permission from Wiltshire Council to install a ground‑mounted solar farm on the northern edge of his Tottenham House estate in Marlborough, Wiltshire, the Daily Mail reported on 7 October 2026.
What happened
Rokos submitted plans to convert roughly 40 of the estate’s 4,500 acres – currently pasture for dairy cows – into a solar array covering three acres. Planners concluded that the environmental benefits outweighed any impact on the historic landscape. Once operational, the panels are expected to generate around 794,600 kilowatt‑hours of electricity annually, enough to meet a significant share of the estate’s energy needs. About 44 % of the output will be used on‑site, with the balance exported to the local grid.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail notes that the site adjoins a public footpath between the hamlet of Durley and St Katharine’s Church and primary school, though trees currently shield it from view. It also highlights that the estate lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Grade 2 Registered Park and Garden designed by Capability Brown.
What was said
Neighbour Richard Frics warned that the proposal would "erode the special qualities of this Heritage Landscape" and set a "undesirable precedent" for future planning applications. He added that the glare from the glass panels would alter the outlook from the Grade 2 listed stable block. Another resident, Mark Colquhoun, praised the overall restoration of the property but said the modern energy infrastructure would "undermine the character and legibility of this protected setting".
Key facts
- Chris Rokos secured planning permission for a solar farm on his Wiltshire estate. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The farm will cover three acres and generate about 794,600 kWh per year. (dailymail.co.uk)
- 44% of the electricity will be used on‑site, the rest exported to the grid. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Neighbour Richard Frics and Mark Colquhoun expressed concerns about visual and heritage impact. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Billionaire wins fight to build huge solar farm to power 100-bed home”
