Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarCity of Edinburgh

Solar planning in City of Edinburgh

City of Edinburgh has decided 14 solar farms and approved 100% of them, taking a median of 1.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 15 MW. 3 applications still awaiting a decision.

100%
Approved
14 granted · 0 refused
1.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
15 MW
Consented
across approved schemes
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How City of Edinburgh compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, City of Edinburgh sits in the 77th percentile for approval rate (7 points above the England average) and the 62nd percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 2 (2020)220Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 4 (2022)422Approved — 2 (2023)223Approved — 1 (2024)124Approved — 3 (2025)325Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (18)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Morrison Street, West End - Solar Panels
Drum Capital Projects Limited · 26/00453/CLP
0.38Application Submitted2026-02-06
Royal Commonwealth Pool, Dalkeith Road - Solar Panels
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-Op · 25/06090/FUL · 2 mo to decide
0.41Awaiting Construction2026-01-20
Glasgow Road, Gogar - Solar Panels
Custom Solar Limited · 25/05252/FUL · 1.9 mo to decide
0.45Awaiting Construction2025-12-22
Victoria Primary School, Windrush Drive - Solar PV System
Edinburgh Community Solar Coop · 25/04137/CLP · 1.7 mo to decide
0.19Awaiting Construction2025-10-01
Canaan Lane Primary School, Canaan Lane - Solar PV
Edinburgh Community Solar Coop · 25/04133/CLP · 0.9 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2025-09-11
Murrayfield Hospital, Corstorphine Road - Solar Panels
Spire Healthcare Limited (Head Office) · 24/02289/FUL
0.55Application Withdrawn2025-03-07
Sainsburys, Craigleith Road - Solar Array
E.ON UK Heat Limited · 23/07389/CLP · 1.9 mo to decide
0.65Awaiting Construction2024-02-14
Queen Anne Drive - Roof Mounted Solar PV Panels
Ylem Energy Limited · 23/03583/CLP · 2.4 mo to decide
0.63Awaiting Construction2023-10-20
Sainsburys, Craigleith Road - Solar Array
E.ON UK Heat Limited · 23/03764/FUL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.65Revised2023-10-12
George Square - Solar Panels
University of Edinburgh · 23/03490/CLP · 1.8 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2023-10-11
Ocean Point 2 - 404 Bed Student Accommodation & 120 Apartments
S Harrison Developments Limited · 23/04069/FUL
0.15Application Submitted2023-09-01
Omni Centre, Leith Street - Solar Panels
ECF Omni SARL · 22/04745/FUL · 2 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2022-11-22
Chariot Drive, Newbridge Road - Solar Panels
Nuveen Real Estate · 22/03835/FUL · 1.4 mo to decide
1.22Awaiting Construction2022-11-09
Newbridge - Ground mounted solar Pv panels
Scottish Water · 22/01015/FUL · 4.6 mo to decide
1.02Awaiting Construction2022-08-04
Building B2/B3, Haymarket Square - Photovoltaic Panels
Prudential Assurance Company Limited · 22/01496/FUL · 3 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2022-06-23
Main Terminal 1 Edinburgh Airport - Solar Farm
City of Edinburgh Council / Edinburgh Airport/ Ampyr Energy UK Development Limited · 21/05261/PNE · 0.6 mo to decide
9Awaiting Construction2021-10-25
Claylands Road
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service · 20/00942/FUL · 4.1 mo to decide
0.2Operational2020-07-01
City of Edinburgh Council Buildings
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op · 20/01666/FUL · 0.4 mo to decide
0.2Operational2020-05-06

Does City of Edinburgh approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 14 solar farms City of Edinburgh has decided, 100% were approved (14 granted, 0 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in City of Edinburgh?

The median time from application to decision is 1.9 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 City of Edinburgh consented?

15 MW has been consented across 14 approved schemes. A further 3 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in City of Edinburgh

Battery storage in City of EdinburghOnshore wind in City of Edinburgh

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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