Billionaire hedge fund manager's solar farm plan for stately home hits neighbours' opposition
A billionaire hedge fund manager has come under fire from neighbours after lodging plans to build a solar farm to power his 100-room stately home.
Chris Rokos is seeking permission to turn North Park near Marlborough, Wiltshire into 40 acres of energy panels amid his efforts to 'decarbonise' Tottenham House.
He hopes to create a 'sustainable form of power and water to enable its future operation'.
But angry locals have said they are concerned about the potential 'lowering of water pressure' in the area.
In a strongly worded objection, Great Bedwyn Parish council said: 'We object to the current proposal over concerns of the installation of the new water mains connection and creation of a drainage lagoon and soakaway.
'We ask that Wiltshire Council seek reassurances from Thames Water that the installation of the new mains will not be to the detriment of residents within our parish with regards to the lowering of water pressure or indeed no suitable mains water supply.'
A document submitted on behalf of Esturmy Construction limited, the applicant, says planning permission is required for a proposed photovoltaic array (PV array), drainage lagoon, and water mains connection with North Park.
Chris Rokos is seeking permission to turn North Park near Marlborough, Wiltshire into the giant energy field amid his efforts to 'decarbonise' Tottenham House (pictured)
Images show the full extent of the proposal at it stretches across North Park - a registered park and garden created in the 18th century
A planning statement said the panels would 'help contribute towards the decarbonisation of Tottenham House'
North Park is located at the northern part of the registered park and garden created in the 18th century and is currently used for grazing dairy cattle and silage.
A planning statement added it was proposing the 'installation of a ground mounter PV array of approximately 688kwp to reduce the C02 emissions generated by the estate'.
It said this would 'help contribute towards the decarbonisation of Tottenham House' and contribute to around 28 per cent of the estate's future electric requirements.
The council is expected to give its verdict on the proposal later in the summer.
Mr Rokos previously sparked fury in 2014 when he bought a 19th century building in South Kensington and gained permission to convert it into a new gym and garage.
One neighbour said: ‘You don’t really expect that kind of development on a small mews street.’
Another local added: ‘He has made himself rather unpopular here as he is only going to use it as a back entrance, but we’ve had all this disruption.’
And he raised some eyebrows in 2022 after putting out an advert for an 'iPad butler' to help his family look after their Apple phones, tablets and other gadgets.
