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Renewable planning SolarChichester

Solar planning in Chichester

Chichester has decided 24 solar farms and approved 88% of them, taking a median of 2.6 months to decide. Consented capacity: 87 MW. 1 application still awaiting a decision.

88%
Approved
21 granted · 3 refused
2.6 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
87 MW
Consented
31 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Chichester compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Chichester sits in the 21st percentile for approval rate (5 points below the England average) and the 44th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 1 (2011)111Approved — 1 (2012)112Approved — 1 (2013)113Approved — 1 (2014)114Approved — 4 (2015)415Approved — 1 (2017)117Approved — 2 (2021)221Approved — 4 (2022)Refused — 1 (2022)522Refused — 1 (2023)123Approved — 4 (2024)424Approved — 2 (2025)Refused — 1 (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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (25)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Mundham, Runcton Lane - Solar Farm
BNRG Renewables Limited · 24/01859/FUL · 8.7 mo to decide
30Application Refused2025-05-12
Wisborough Green - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Renewable Connections Developments Limited · 25/00658/FUL
20Application Submitted2025-03-27
Chichester College, Westgate Fields - Solar Panels
Green Nation Solar Energy · 24/02881/PA14J · 1.8 mo to decide
0.35Awaiting Construction2025-02-25
Arundel Lido, Queen Street - Solar Panels
Arundel and Downland community leisure trust · SDNP/24/05125/FUL · 2.3 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2025-02-20
Chichester Food Park, Runcton Unit - Solar Panels
Landlink Estates Limited · 24/01127/PA14J · 1.6 mo to decide
1.33Awaiting Construction2024-07-08
Natures Way Food, Chichester Road - Solar Panels
Landlink Estates Limited · 24/01128/PA14J · 1.6 mo to decide
1.84Awaiting Construction2024-07-08
Ham Farm, Bosham - Solar Panels
Landlink Estates Limited · 24/00475/PA14J · 1.4 mo to decide
0.37Awaiting Construction2024-04-24
Walton Barn - Solar Panels
Landlink Estates Limited · 24/00281/PA14J · 1.7 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2024-04-11
Lavant Pumping Station, Lavant Down Road - Solar Panels
Portsmouth Water Limited · SDNP/22/03021/FUL · 5.7 mo to decide
0.25Application Refused2023-03-23
Donaldsons Nursery, Marsh Farm - Solar Panels
The Summer Berry Company · 22/02842/PA14J · 1.8 mo to decide
0.19Under Construction2022-12-21
Teknoflex, Quarry Lane - Solar Panels
Contract Candles · 22/01831/PA14J · 1.8 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2022-10-17
Stoughton - Ground Mounted Solar Panels
Portsmouth Water · SDNP/22/00625/LDP · 6 mo to decide
0.43Application Refused2022-09-01
Bartholomews, Merston Oving - Solar Array
Bartholomews (Holdings) Limited · 22/01235/PA14J · 1.5 mo to decide
0.27Awaiting Construction2022-06-24
Via Ravenna - Solar Panel
Chichester District Council · 22/00496/PA14J� · 1.4 mo to decide
0.17Awaiting Construction2022-04-08
Ferry Farm - Solar array
BNRG & Lanlink Estates Limited · 21/01816/FULEIA · 4.6 mo to decide
11Awaiting Construction2021-11-05
Baker Barracks Solar Development
Defence Estates Infrastructure Organisation · 20/03047/FULEIA · 3 mo to decide
1.5Awaiting Construction2021-02-22
Former Westhampnett Landfill
West Sussex County Council · WSCC/057/16/WH · 3.4 mo to decide
7.5Operational2017-01-10
Strettington Solar Farm
Sunsave 30 (Strettington)/ Vogt solar · 15/01497/FUL · 5.2 mo to decide
5Operational2015-10-21
Land At Ferry Farm
BNRG (sold to another developer) · 14/03944/FULEIA · 3.9 mo to decide
10Operational2015-04-07
Merston Solar Park
Primrose Solar / Mongoose Energy · 14/02814/FUL · 5.5 mo to decide
10Operational2015-03-19
Land at Tangmere Airfield
West Sussex County Council · 14/03894/CPO · 1.6 mo to decide
5Operational2015-01-01
Bakers Farm (solar)
Quercus Renewable Holding 2 · 14/00870/FULEIA · 6.6 mo to decide
12Operational2014-10-06
Hunters Race Solar Park
Aardvark Environment Matters · 13/00382/FUL · 3 mo to decide
9.3Operational2013-05-13
Decoy Farm House Solar Modules
Ms Power Projects Ltd · 12/01819/FUL · 5 mo to decide
6Operational2012-10-17
Oving Solar Farm
Vogt Solar · 11/00738/FUL · 2.3 mo to decide
5Operational2011-05-03

Does Chichester approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 24 solar farms Chichester has decided, 88% were approved (21 granted, 3 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Chichester?

The median time from application to decision is 2.6 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 Chichester consented?

87 MW has been consented across 21 approved schemes, with 31 MW refused. A further 1 application awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Chichester

Battery storage in ChichesterOnshore wind in Chichester

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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