Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarCheshire West and Chester

Solar planning in Cheshire West and Chester

Cheshire West and Chester has decided 39 solar farms and approved 95% of them, taking a median of 1.7 months to decide. Consented capacity: 87 MW. 8 applications still awaiting a decision.

95%
Approved
37 granted · 2 refused
1.7 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
87 MW
Consented
5 MW refused
2
Appeals
1 allowed on appeal

How Cheshire West and Chester compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Cheshire West and Chester sits in the 43rd percentile for approval rate (2 points above the England average) and the 87th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 1 (2013)113Refused — 1 (2015)115Approved — 1 (2016)116Approved — 1 (2018)118Approved — 5 (2021)521Approved — 8 (2022)822Approved — 5 (2023)523Approved — 6 (2024)Refused — 1 (2024)724Approved — 9 (2025)925Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (47)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
The Foundation, Herons Way - Solar Panels
Private Developer · 25/03246/P14 · 4.2 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2026-02-18
Gowy Solar Park
Infinis Energy Services Limited · 25/03414/FUL
Application Submitted2025-11-21
The Countess Of Chester Health Park, Bowmere Hospital - Solar Panels
The Countess Of Chester · 25/03231/P14 · 1.2 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2025-11-19
Lady Heyes Camping And Caravan Site, Kingsley Road - Solar Panels
Lady Heyes Camping and Caravan Site · 24/02733/FUL · 11.1 mo to decide
0.39Awaiting Construction2025-09-15
The County High School Leftwich, Granville Road - Solar Panels
Located Property Limited · 25/02278/P14 · 1.4 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2025-09-03
Wallerscote Limebeds - Solar Pv Park
Infinis Solar Developments Limited / Green Earth Developments · 23/02766/FUL · 22.6 mo to decide
22Awaiting Construction2025-07-21
Sainsburys, Kinsey Road - Solar Panels
Sainsburys Supermarkets Limited · 25/01492/P14 · 2 mo to decide
0.53Awaiting Construction2025-07-15
Carden Park Golf Resort - Solar Farm & Substation
Carden Group · 25/01638/FUL
Application Submitted2025-07-01
Lea Manor Farm Buildings, Lea Lane - Solar Panels
Rawson EV Power Limited · 25/01198/P14 · 1.6 mo to decide
0.6Awaiting Construction2025-05-30
Hob Lane, Dunham On The Hill - Solar Farm
Belltown Power Limited · 25/01339/FUL
30Application Submitted2025-05-23
Jaguar Landrover Phoenix Building, Eric Foundation Road - Solar Array
Jaguar · 25/00515/P14 · 1.8 mo to decide
1.3Awaiting Construction2025-04-17
Yew Tree Farm, Hall Lane - Solar Panels
Yew Tree Farm · 25/0138/PRIOR-14J · 1.4 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2025-03-07
Smeaton Wood Farm, Pinsley Green Road - Solar Panels
Smeaton Wood Farm Limited · 25/0245/PRIOR-14J · 1.2 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2025-02-28
Aston Grange, Aston - Solar Panels & Battery Energy Storage System
Innova Renewables · 25/00100/FULEIA
20Application Submitted2025-02-24
Bell Meadow Business Park, Park Lane - Solar Farm
PPLS Partnership · 23/02390/FUL · 14.6 mo to decide
Application Refused2024-12-23
Drumlan Hall Farm, Newton Lane - Roof Mounted PV Panels
Bolesworth Estates Company Limited · 24/02900/P14 · 1.7 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2024-11-18
Bumpers Lane - Solar Array
Stokers Limited · 24/02580/P14 · 1.2 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2024-10-16
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, Middlewich Road - Solar Panels
RL & PR Latham Llp · 24/02876/P14
0.37Application Submitted2024-10-02
Woodford Lane West - Solar Farm (Hebden Green)
Anglo Renewables · 23/02370/FUL · 12 mo to decide
19Awaiting Construction2024-07-25
Sainsburys, Caldy Valley Road - Solar Panels
Sainsburys Supermarkets Limited · 24/00363/P14 · 1.5 mo to decide
0.38Awaiting Construction2024-03-25
Tiger Trailers, Winsford Industrial Estate - Solar Panels
Tiger Trailers · 23/03668/P14 · 1.6 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2024-01-08
Chester Gates - Solar Panels
Unknown · 23/03781/P14 · 1.3 mo to decide
0.27Awaiting Construction2024-01-08
Inchcape Volkswagen Chester, Sealand Road - Solar PV System
Inchcape Volkswagen Chester · 23/02188/P14 · 1.7 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2023-08-30
Urenco Uk Limited, Capenhurst Lane - Solar Panels
URENCO UK Limited · 23/01739/P14 · 1.6 mo to decide
0.25Awaiting Construction2023-07-19
Specialist Technical Products, Smokehall Lane - Solar Panels
Specialist Technical Products Limited · 23/01113/P14 · 2.4 mo to decide
0.16Awaiting Construction2023-06-15
Cawley House, Chester Business Park - Solar Panels
Standard Life Assurance Limited · 23/00956/P14 · 2.3 mo to decide
0.73Awaiting Construction2023-05-31
Schoeller Allibert Limited, Road One - Solar Panels System
Schoeller Allibert Limited · 22/01832/FUL · 8.3 mo to decide
2.2Awaiting Construction2023-01-24
Big Storage Self Storage, Sealand Road - Solar Panels
Big Yellow Group Plc · 22/03488/P14 · 1.5 mo to decide
0.17Awaiting Construction2022-10-27
Longlooms Road East - Solar panels
Mercedes Benz (UK) · 22/02100/P14 · 4.2 mo to decide
0.22Operational2022-10-13
High Street - Solar Farm
Anesco Limited · 21/04362/FUL · 11.5 mo to decide
17.57Awaiting Construction2022-10-11
City Road - Solar panel
Belong Construction Limited · 22/02101/P14 · 1.4 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2022-07-20
Morrison Supermarkets - Solar Photovoltaics Panels
WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc · 22/01062/P14 · 1.5 mo to decide
0.57Awaiting Construction2022-05-03
Tiger Trailers, Road One - Solar Array
Tiger Trailers · 22/01072/P14 · 2 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2022-05-03
Chester Business Park, Lakewood - Solar Panels
Mara Electrical · 22/00886/P14 · 1.6 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2022-04-22
Mill Lane - Solar System
WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc · 22/00581/P14 · 1.8 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2022-04-04
Chads Farm - Photovoltaic Arrays & Battery Storage
Renewable Connections Developments Limited · 22/00224/FUL
15Application Submitted2022-02-21
Dodleston Farm - Solar PV
DM Poultry · 21/04436/P14 · 1.5 mo to decide
0.16Awaiting Construction2021-12-13
Winsford Lifestyle Centre - Solar Panels
Cheshire West & Chester Council · 21/03702/P14 · 1.1 mo to decide
0.27Awaiting Construction2021-10-08
Ellesmere Port Sports Village - Solar Arrays
Cheshire West & Chester Council · 21/03742/P14 · 1 mo to decide
0.31Awaiting Construction2021-10-08
Victoria Road - Solar Panels
Cheshire West & Chester Council · 21/03710/P14 · 1.1 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2021-10-08
Stublach Project Solar Farm
Storengy UK Limited · 20/04118/FUL · 5.9 mo to decide
2.25Awaiting Construction2021-05-04
Huntington Water Treatment Works
United Utilities · 17/05078/FUL · 4.8 mo to decide
7.2Operational2018-04-24
Fields Farm (Agden)
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 15/03109/FUL · 6.6 mo to decide
5Operational2016-02-10
Land off, Common Lane
Peel Energy · 15/01724/FUL · 5.8 mo to decide
5Appeal Refused2015-10-21
Land At Elton Farm
SEP Elton · 15/01909/FUL
5Application Submitted2015-05-11
Land West Of Vicarage Lane
SEP Puddington · 15/01910/FUL
5Application Submitted2015-05-11
Aldi Distribution Centre - Neston
Aldi · 13/03012/FUL · 2.2 mo to decide
1.2Operational2013-09-13

Does Cheshire West and Chester approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 39 solar farms Cheshire West and Chester has decided, 95% were approved (37 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Cheshire West and Chester?

The median time from application to decision is 1.7 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 Cheshire West and Chester consented?

87 MW has been consented across 37 approved schemes, with 5 MW refused. A further 8 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Cheshire West and Chester

Battery storage in Cheshire West and ChesterOnshore wind in Cheshire West and Chester

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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