Prince William’s close friend Harry Aubrey-Fletcher has agreed to let Acorn Bioenergy use part of his private land at Hornage Farm, Buckinghamshire, for what is expected to be England’s largest biogas-to-grid digestion plant.
The proposed facility, near Long Crendon and Oakley, would use agricultural material including crops, manure and slurry to produce biomethane for the national gas network, along with natural fertiliser for nearby farms.
Acorn says the plant could generate enough renewable gas to heat about 9,500 homes and help reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. The company has also said the scheme would support local agriculture and create jobs during construction and operation.
However, the proposal has met strong opposition from residents and parish councils in surrounding villages. Campaigners have raised concerns about the scale of the development, its impact on the countryside and the number of heavy goods vehicles needed to deliver feedstock to the site.
Acorn’s revised plans include limits on lorry movements, with up to 40 movements a day for most of the year and a higher limit during harvest periods. The company has also pledged that much of the material used by the plant would be sourced locally.
The planning application remains under consideration by Buckinghamshire Council. Acorn has said it has amended the scheme following discussions with local stakeholders, including additional planting and measures intended to reduce its visual and traffic impact.
Mr Aubrey-Fletcher, 44, is a long-standing friend of the Prince of Wales and one of Prince Louis’s godparents. He joined the Prince’s Council, which advises William on the running of the Duchy of Cornwall, in March 2023.
