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Renewable planning SolarBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Solar planning in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has decided 25 solar farms and approved 88% of them, taking a median of 2.3 months to decide. Consented capacity: 150 MW. 6 applications still awaiting a decision.

88%
Approved
22 granted · 3 refused
2.3 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
150 MW
Consented
6 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole sits in the 21st percentile for approval rate (5 points below the England average) and the 51st percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Refused — 1 (2011)111Approved — 2 (2013)213Approved — 1 (2014)114Approved — 3 (2015)315Approved — 1 (2020)120Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 1 (2022)122Approved — 6 (2023)Refused — 2 (2023)823Approved — 4 (2024)424Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (31)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Waterditch Farm - Solar Farm & Battery Storage
Meyrick Estate Management Limited · P/25/02590/FUL
49.9Application Submitted2025-07-21
Wimborne Road - Solar Panels
Co-operative Food - Moordown · P/25/00969/PNPHV · 2.1 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2025-06-19
Sainsburys, Alder Park - Solar panels
Sainsburys Supermarkets Limited · APP/24/01300/PA · 5.5 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2025-05-12
Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East - Solar Panels
Crowd House Energy · 7-2025-5913-FY · 2.2 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-04-23
Hollywood Bowl Bournemouth Branksome, Poole Road - Solar panels
Hollywood Bowl Group (Head Office) · APP/24/01146/PA · 1.6 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2024-12-10
Curtiss Wright Controls, Enterprise Way - Solar Panels
Curtiss-Wright Controls Flight Systems · 8/24/0538/PNPHV · 2.5 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2024-11-01
Fleetspoint Business Centre, Willis Way - Solar PV Panels
Trident Maritime Systems UK Limited · APP/24/01149/PA
0.16Application Submitted2024-10-16
Fleetspoint Business Centre, Willis Way - Solar PV Panels
Trident Maritime Systems UK Limited · APP/24/01150/PA
0.26Application Submitted2024-10-16
Fleetspoint Business Centre, Willis Way - Solar PV Panels
Trident Maritime Systems UK Limited · APP/24/00929/PA · 1.6 mo to decide
0.26Revised2024-10-03
Fleetspoint Business Centre, Willis Way - Solar PV Panels
Trident Maritime Systems UK Limited · APP/24/00930/PA · 1.6 mo to decide
0.15Revised2024-10-02
Parley Court - Solar Farm
Enviromena Asset Management UK Limited · 8/21/1067/FUL · 30.9 mo to decide
35Awaiting Construction2024-06-18
Canford School, Sports Centre - Solar Panels
Canford School · APP/24/00295/F · 2.2 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2024-05-23
Whites Pit, Arena Way - Solar PV Array
Canford Renewable Energy Limited · APP/23/01002/F · 3 mo to decide
2Awaiting Construction2023-12-19
Poole General Hospital, Longfleet Road - Solar PV Array
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust · APP/23/00463/F · 8 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2023-12-13
Rockley Park Caravan Holiday Park, Hamworthy - Solar Panels
Rockley Sands (Estates) Limited · APP/23/01131/PA · 1.3 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2023-11-13
David Lloyd Leisure - Solar Panels
David Lloyd Leisure Limited · APP/23/00886/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.63Awaiting Construction2023-10-10
Haven Rockley Holiday Park, Napier Road - Solar Panels
Bourne Leisure Group · APP/23/00572/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.51Application Refused2023-08-01
David Lloyd Leisure - Solar Panels
David Lloyd Leisure Limited · APP/23/00629/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.52Application Refused2023-07-26
Poole General Hospital, Longfleet Road - Solar Panels
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · APP/23/00414/PA · 2.6 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2023-06-16
Rockley Holiday Park, Napier Road - Solar Panels
Bourne Leisure Limited · APP/23/00053/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.51Revised2023-03-10
The Alpha Centre, Upton Road - Solar Panels
Standard Life Assurance · APP/22/01775/PA · 1.5 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2023-02-13
Big Yellow Self Storage, Nuffield Road - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Big Yellow Group Plc · APP/22/01198/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2022-10-20
Dorset Green Solar Farm
Canford Renewable Energy Limited · APP/21/00400/F · 4.4 mo to decide
5Operational2021-07-23
Parkfield School
Reach South Academy Trust · 8/19/1291/FUL · 9.1 mo to decide
0.4Planning Permission Expired2020-07-27
Hale Farm
Hale Solar Limited · 8/14/0520 · 10.8 mo to decide
8Operational2015-09-23
Waterditch Solar Farm
New Forest Energy · 8/15/0284 · 1.1 mo to decide
18Operational2015-06-24
Chapel Lane Parley Solar Farm Phase 3
Eco Sustainable Solutions · 8/14/0412 · 5.1 mo to decide
4Operational2015-01-30
Christchurch Energy
New Forest Energy Ltd · 8/14/0226 · 3.3 mo to decide
18Operational2014-08-29
Chapel Lane Parley Solar Farm Phase 2
Eco Sustainable Solutions · 8/13/0332 · 2.4 mo to decide
36Operational2013-09-26
Chapel Lane Parley Solar Farm Phase 1
Solar Power Generation Limited · 8/12/0512 · 3.9 mo to decide
20Operational2013-03-28
Parley Renewable Energy Park (PV)
Eco Sustainable Solutions · 8/10/0604 · 2.7 mo to decide
5Application Refused2011-03-16

Does Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 25 solar farms Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has decided, 88% were approved (22 granted, 3 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

The median time from application to decision is 2.3 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole consented?

150 MW has been consented across 22 approved schemes, with 6 MW refused. A further 6 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Battery storage in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleOnshore wind in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

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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