Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarBreckland

Solar planning in Breckland

Breckland has decided 27 solar farms and approved 93% of them, taking a median of 2.7 months to decide. Consented capacity: 208 MW. 5 applications still awaiting a decision.

93%
Approved
25 granted · 2 refused
2.7 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
208 MW
Consented
44 MW refused
2
Appeals
2 allowed on appeal

How Breckland compares

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

Decisions by year

35Approved — 1 (2011)111Approved — 3 (2012)312Approved — 2 (2014)Refused — 1 (2014)314Approved — 1 (2015)Refused — 1 (2015)215Approved — 1 (2020)120Approved — 2 (2021)221Approved — 5 (2022)522Approved — 4 (2023)423Approved — 3 (2024)324Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (33)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Cranswick Country Foods, Abattoir Brandon Road - Solar Array
Cranswick Country Foods Plc · PL/2025/1874/FMIN
0.81Application Submitted2025-12-12
Dykewood Farm, Water End Lane - Solar Panels
Regener8 Power Limited · PL/2025/0998/FMAJ
49.9Application Submitted2025-07-10
Thetford Garden Centre, Kilverstone Road - Solar Panels
Thetford Garden Centre · PL/2025/0549/PAPV · 2 mo to decide
0.19Awaiting Construction2025-06-17
Thetford Sports Centre, Croxton Road - Solar Panels
Breckland District Council · PL/2025/0271/PAPV · 1 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2025-04-02
Woodlands Farm - Solar Array
Elgin Energy EsCo Limited · DC/22/01530 · 33.5 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2025-01-07
Hamonds High School, Brandon Road - Solar Panels
Academy Transformation Trust · PL/2024/0778/PAPV · 1.6 mo to decide
0.26Awaiting Construction2024-12-18
The Park Farm, Birds Corner - Battery Energy Storage
Regener8 Power Limited · PL/2025/0904/FMAJ
49.9Application Submitted2024-11-26
Hargham Road - Solar Panels
Hargham Farms & Partners · 3PL/2024/0230/F
0.25Application Submitted2024-03-28
The Bishops CE Primary Academy - Solar Panels
Solar Options for Schools Limited · 3PN/2024/0006/PV · 0.9 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2024-03-25
Dereham Leisure Centre, Station Road - Solar Panels
Parkwood Leisure Ltd · 3PN/2023/0034/PV · 1.4 mo to decide
0.17Awaiting Construction2024-01-11
Nicholas Hamond Academy - Solar Panel Canopies
Academy Transformation Trust · 3PL/2023/1006/F · 1.3 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2023-11-28
Jafa, Great Dunham - Solar Photovoltaic Farm & Battery Storage
Low Carbon UK Solar Investment Co Limited · 3PL/2022/1215/F · 5.1 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2023-03-30
Little Cressingham, Cranswick Country Foods - Solar Array
Cranswick Country Foods Plc · 3PL/2022/1391/F · 3.6 mo to decide
1.82Awaiting Construction2023-03-27
IFD Group, Harling Road - Solar Panels
IFD Group · 3PN/2023/0002/PV · 1.3 mo to decide
0.25Awaiting Construction2023-02-21
Cranswick Country Foods, Brandon Road - Solar Panels
Cranswick Country Foods · 3PN/2022/0042/PV · 1.1 mo to decide
0.66Awaiting Construction2022-12-19
Land North of the A11 - Solar Park
Private Developer · 3PL/2021/1514/F · 11.5 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2022-10-26
Lays Farm, Wood Lane - Solar Panels
Copperfield Enterprises Limited · 3PN/2022/0027/PV · 0.9 mo to decide
0.23Awaiting Construction2022-10-06
HMP Wayland - Solar Panels
Ministry of Justice · 3PL/2021/1687/EU · 1.5 mo to decide
0.34Operational2022-04-19
Station Road - Solar Panels
WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc · 3PN/2022/0006/PV · 1.6 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2022-04-14
Attleborough Road Solar Farm
Pace Carnival Energy · 3PL/2021/0236/F · 7.9 mo to decide
30Under Construction2021-10-11
Three Bridges Solar Farm
Pathfinder Clean Energy UK Dev Limited · 3PL/2020/1134/F · 4.9 mo to decide
15Awaiting Construction2021-03-10
Tesco Superstore Thetford Road
Push Energy · 3PN/2019/0053/PV · 5.1 mo to decide
0.2Operational2020-04-17
Huntingfield Solar Farm
Raker Farms · 3PL/2015/0699/F · 3.2 mo to decide
4.4Operational2015-09-22
Hall Farm and Field Barn Farm
Rethink Energy · 3PL/2014/0589/F · 8.3 mo to decide
34Application Refused2015-02-18
Hardingham Solar Farm - extension
Solar Century/ Bluefield Solar · 3PL/2014/0545/F · 5.2 mo to decide
5.2Operational2014-10-28
Kenninghall Solar / Hazeldick Solar
Norfolk Renewables · 3PL/2012/1088/F · 23.2 mo to decide
8Operational2014-09-24
Home Farm (Swaffham)
juwi Renewable Energies · 3PL/2014/0272/F
12Application Withdrawn2014-07-18
Whitebreads Farm
AVIC-PCI · 3PL/2014/0143/F · 5 mo to decide
10Application Refused2014-07-14
Hall Farm and Field Barn Farm
Rethink Energy Limited · 3PL/2013/0546/F
30Revised2013-09-25
Claypit Moor Solar Farm (Lexham)
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 3PL/2012/1020/F · 2.9 mo to decide
7.9Operational2012-12-21
Burntstalk Solar Park
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 3PL/2012/1036/F · 2.4 mo to decide
11.5Operational2012-12-21
Hardingham Solar Farm
Solar Century/ Bluefield Solar · 3PL/2012/1021/F · 2.7 mo to decide
14.8Operational2012-12-21
Airfield Farm PV
P V Farms 01 · 3PL/2010/1211/F · 2.2 mo to decide
5Operational2011-01-27

Does Breckland approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 27 solar farms Breckland has decided, 93% were approved (25 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Breckland?

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 Breckland consented?

208 MW has been consented across 25 approved schemes, with 44 MW refused. A further 5 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Breckland

Battery storage in BrecklandOnshore wind in Breckland

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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