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Renewable planning › Solar › Bedford

Solar planning in Bedford

Bedford has decided 28 solar farms and approved 93% of them, taking a median of 2.7 months to decide. Consented capacity: 213 MW. 6 applications still awaiting a decision.

93%
Approved
26 granted · 2 refused
2.7 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
213 MW
Consented
5 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Bedford compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Bedford sits in the 35th percentile for approval rate (level with the England average) and the 42nd percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 2 (2013)213Approved — 4 (2014)414Refused — 1 (2015)115Approved — 1 (2020)120Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 2 (2022)222Approved — 7 (2023)723Approved — 3 (2024)324Approved — 5 (2025)Refused — 1 (2025)625Approved — 1 (2026)126
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (35)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Bedford Modern School, Manton Lane - Solar Panels
Bedford Modern School · 26/00572/SPNJ
0.33Application Submitted2026-03-25
Bedford School, De Parys Avenue - Solar Panels
Bedford School · 26/00532/FUL
0.21Application Submitted2026-03-18
Twinwood Road Oakley And Clapham, Thurleigh Road - Solar Farm
PACE Elevate Energy Limited · 25/01292/MAF · 7.6 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2026-02-19
Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Road - Solar Panels
Bedfordshire Police Authority · 25/02283/SPNJ · 1.1 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2025-12-22
Pilgrims Pre Preparatory School, Brickhill Drive - Solar Panels
Eco UK Group · 25/01216/SPNJ · 1.6 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2025-08-08
Bedford Solar, Northill Road - Solar Farm & Battery Storage
QC Ubertino Limited · 25/01030/MAF
49.9Application Submitted2025-06-04
Bassmead Manor Farm, Staploe - Solar Panels
P Squire Limited · 24/01819/FUL · 5.1 mo to decide
0.19Awaiting Construction2025-03-27
Sainsbury, Bells Brook - Solar Panels
Sainsburys Supermarkets Limited · CB/25/00550/PASP · 1.1 mo to decide
0.27Awaiting Construction2025-03-26
Cobholden Solar Farm
AGR Renewables · 24/00858/MAF · 8.3 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2025-01-30
Kempston Swimming Pool, Hillgrounds Road - Solar PV Panels
Bedford Borough Council · 24/02159/SPNJ · 1.7 mo to decide
0.18Application Refused2025-01-02
Kings Oak Primary School, Oak Road - Solar Array
Bedford Borough Council · 24/00030/DC3
0.22Application Withdrawn2024-05-07
Gooseys Lodge, Wymington Lane - Solar Farm
Wykes Engineering Limited Goosey Lodge · 23/02517/MAF · 4.7 mo to decide
10.38Awaiting Construction2024-05-02
Atlas Converting Equipment Limited, Wolseley Road - Solar Panels
Atlas Converting Equipment Plc · 24/00141/SPNJ · 2 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2024-03-25
Marsh Leys Farm, Woburn Road - Photovoltaics
Sainsburys Supermarkets Limited · 23/02668/SPNJ · 1.7 mo to decide
0.52Awaiting Construction2024-02-01
Progress Park, Elstow, Site B - Solar Panels
Alan Fall Family Trust managed by Bourse Trustees · 23/02362/SPNJ · 1.8 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2023-12-19
Progress Park, Elstow, Site A - Solar PV Panels
Alan Fall Family Trust managed by Bourse Trustees · 23/02361/SPNJ · 1.8 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2023-12-19
Kenneth Way, Wilstead - Solar Panels
Holdsworth Food · 23/01535/SPNJ · 1.5 mo to decide
0.25Awaiting Construction2023-08-30
Goosey Lodge - Solar Farm
Wykes Engineering Limited Goosey Lodge · 22/01520/MAF · 10.5 mo to decide
10.5Awaiting Construction2023-05-25
Towers Health And Racquets Club, Clapham Road - Solar Panels
Towers Health & Racquets Club · 23/00573/SPNJ · 1.8 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2023-05-09
Oakley Primary Academy, Station Road - Solar Panels & ASHP
Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust · 22/02104/FUL · 5 mo to decide
1.6Awaiting Construction2023-02-22
Clapham Plateau - Solar Farm
Sirius Renewable Energy · 22/01581/MAF · 6.6 mo to decide
5.5Awaiting Construction2023-01-25
Unit 8, Hudson Road - Solar Panels
INFARM · 22/02543/SPNJ · 1.2 mo to decide
0.88Awaiting Construction2022-12-29
Unit 8, Hudson Road - Solar Panels
INFARM · 22/01916/SPNJ · 1.8 mo to decide
1.03Revised2022-10-19
Bedford Academy, Mile Road - Solar Panels
Heart Academies Trust · 22/00939/SPNJ · 1.7 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2022-06-16
Green Lane, Stewartby - Solar PV Array
Infinis Solar Developments Limited · 22/00450/FULWM
30Application Submitted2022-03-16
Systems House
USystems Limited · 21/02478/SPNJ · 1.3 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2021-10-21
Snakes Meadow - Solar Farm
Renewable Connections Developments Limited · 21/02526/MAF
45.5Application Submitted2021-10-12
Elstow Landfill Site
Bedford Borough Council · 20/01987/FULWM · 2.7 mo to decide
5.5Under Construction2020-11-30
Land at Wood Road
Town Farm Solar Farm · 15/00444/MAF · 4.6 mo to decide
5Application Refused2015-07-27
Clapham solar farm
SBC Renewables · 14/01789/MAF · 4.2 mo to decide
7.5Operational2014-11-24
Manor Farm - Pertenhall
Prosolia UK · 14/00986/MAF · 6 mo to decide
15Operational2014-11-19
Odell Glebe Solar Farm
Vento Ludens · 14/01333/MAF · 2.9 mo to decide
16.8Operational2014-09-22
Chelveston Airfield - extension
Chelveston Renewable Energy · 14/00469/MAF · 2.8 mo to decide
3.5Operational2014-06-02
Glebe Farm Solar Energy Park
Vento Ludens · 13/00218/MAF · 3.9 mo to decide
15Operational2013-06-03
Chelveston Airfield
Chelveston Renewable Energy Limited · 12/02408/MAF · 4.2 mo to decide
16Operational2013-04-25

Does Bedford approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 28 solar farms Bedford has decided, 93% were approved (26 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Bedford?

The median time from application to decision is 2.7 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 Bedford consented?

213 MW has been consented across 26 approved schemes, with 5 MW refused. A further 6 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Bedford

Battery storage in BedfordOnshore wind in Bedford

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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