Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarAmber Valley

Solar planning in Amber Valley

Amber Valley has decided 15 solar farms and approved 67% of them, taking a median of 2.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 29 MW. 7 applications still awaiting a decision.

67%
Approved
10 granted · 5 refused
2.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
29 MW
Consented
66 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Amber Valley compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Amber Valley sits in the 2nd percentile for approval rate (26 points below the England average) and the 36th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Refused — 3 (2013)313Refused — 1 (2015)115Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 2 (2022)Refused — 1 (2022)322Approved — 3 (2023)323Approved — 1 (2024)124Approved — 3 (2025)325
Approved Refused

Solar decisions by the year the decision was issued (Renewable Energy Planning Database). Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.

Every recorded scheme (22)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Aldercar Infant & Nursery School, Godkin Drive - Solar Panels
Private Developer · PDR/2026/0008
0.38Application Submitted2026-02-23
Heanor Gate Spencer Academy, Kirkley Drive - Solar Panels
Solar Options for Schools Limited · PDR/2026/0006
0.7Application Submitted2026-02-12
Composites House, Delves Road - Solar Panels
Syensqo Heanor · PDR/2025/0019 · 0.9 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2025-05-28
Synesqo, Delves Road - Solar Panels
Syensqo Heanor · PDR/2025/0017 · 0.7 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2025-05-20
Solvay Composites Derby - Solar Panels
Syensqo Heanor · PDR/2025/0018 · 0.7 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2025-05-20
Derby Road - Solar Panels
Starlight Energy · AVA/2024/0877
38Application Submitted2025-03-20
Hl Plastics Extrusions, Flamstead House Hall Road - Solar Panels
Custom Solar Limited · PDR/2024/0008 · 2.4 mo to decide
4.1Awaiting Construction2024-04-23
Evans Concrete Products, Pye Bridge Industrial Estate - Solar Panels
Evans Concrete Products Limited · AVA/2024/0146
0.31Application Submitted2024-03-25
Ripley Leisure Centre, Derby Road - Solar PV Panels
Amber Valley Borough Council · PDR/2023/0029 · 2.9 mo to decide
0.24Awaiting Construction2023-09-12
Alfreton Leisure Centre Car Park, Church Street - Solar Panels
Amber Valley Borough Council� · PDR/2023/0028 · 2.9 mo to decide
0.39Awaiting Construction2023-09-12
William Gregg Vc Leisure Centre, Hands Road - Solar PV Panels
Amber Valley Borough Council · PDR/2023/0030
0.23Application Submitted2023-06-15
Guilford Europe, Cotes Park Lane - Solar Panels
Alight AB · AVA/2022/0894 · 2.8 mo to decide
2.36Awaiting Construction2023-04-04
Factory Tencate Advanced Composites Limited, Amber Drive - Solar Panels
Toray Advanced Composites · PDR/2022/0046 · 2.3 mo to decide
0.47Awaiting Construction2022-12-22
Hall Farm Solar Farm
Kronos Solar · AVA/2020/1224 · 22.9 mo to decide
49.99Application Refused2022-12-05
SC Johnson, Denby - Solar Panels
SC Johnson Professional Limited · PDR/2022/0028 · 3.6 mo to decide
0.62Under Construction2022-09-12
Meadow Lane Solar Farm
Gresham House / Anesco Limited · AVA/2021/0313 · 6.4 mo to decide
19.6Under Construction2021-10-21
Home Farm
CSI FS Home Farm Limited · AVA/2015/0628 · 2.7 mo to decide
1.9Application Refused2015-10-13
Swanwick Colliery
Derbyshire County Council · AVA/2015/0715
1.3Application Submitted2015-07-30
Home Farm (PV)
Private Developer · AVA/2012/1026 · 7.9 mo to decide
5Revised2013-07-04
Knob Farm
Private Developer · AVA/2012/0989 · 7.9 mo to decide
5Application Refused2013-07-04
Iron Works Farm
Private Developer · AVA/2012/1010 · 7.9 mo to decide
5Application Refused2013-07-04
Park Hall Stud Farm
Private Developer · AVA/2012/0946 · 8 mo to decide
3.8Application Refused2013-07-04

Does Amber Valley approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 15 solar farms Amber Valley has decided, 67% were approved (10 granted, 5 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Amber Valley?

The median time from application to decision is 2.9 months, against a UK median of 2.3 months for solar. That is measured between the submission and decision dates recorded in REPD, so it reflects the whole determination period including any extensions.

How much solar capacity has Amber Valley consented?

29 MW has been consented across 10 approved schemes, with 66 MW refused. A further 7 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Amber Valley

Battery storage in Amber ValleyOnshore wind in Amber Valley

Source: Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Open Government Licence v3.0 — 2026 Q1 extract. Approval rate is over decided applications only (approved ÷ approved+refused); withdrawn and undecided schemes are excluded. A permission later expired still counts as approved because consent was granted. REPD covers schemes of roughly 150 kW and above, is published quarterly, and does not record refusal reasons — so nothing here explains why a scheme was refused. Screening context for site selection, not planning advice.

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