Novarly ParcelRenewable planning
Renewable planning › Solar › County Durham
Solar planning in County Durham
County Durham has decided 46 solar farms and approved 93% of them, taking a median of 2 months to decide. Consented capacity: 352 MW. 13 applications still awaiting a decision.
93%
Approved
43 granted · 3 refused
2 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
352 MW
Consented
59 MW refused
2
Appeals
2 allowed on appeal
How County Durham compares
Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, County Durham sits in the 35th percentile for approval rate (level with the England average) and the 58th percentile for speed.
Decisions by year
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (63)
| Scheme | MW | Status | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
University Hospital - Solar Panel County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust · DM/25/03475/PN56 · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.4 | Awaiting Construction | 2026-02-09 |
Chester-Le-Street Community Hospital - Solar Panels County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust · DM/25/03417/PN56 · 2.1 mo to decide | 0.16 | Application Submitted | 2026-02-09 |
Toronto Green Energy Park, Addison Road - Solar Farm Toronto Green Energy Park Limited · DM/26/00218/FPA | 27 | Application Submitted | 2026-01-28 |
Low Raisby Farm, Kelloe - Solar Panels ABEI Energy Green II · DM/26/00070/FPA | 25.3 | Application Submitted | 2026-01-13 |
Howletch Lane Primary School -Solar Panels Ardesh Sarangam · DM/25/02878/PN56 · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.19 | Awaiting Construction | 2025-12-09 |
Wagtail Lane, Craghead - Solar Panels Ampyr Energy UK Development Limited · DM/24/03466/FPA · 10.8 mo to decide | 27 | Application Refused | 2025-12-03 |
Durham Gilesgate Primary School, Kepier Crescent - Solar Panels Ardesh Sarangam · DM/25/02959/PN56 | 0.17 | Application Withdrawn | 2025-12-01 |
Belmont Industrial Estate - Solar Panels Advanced Renewable Power Limited · DM/25/02559/PN56 · 1.7 mo to decide | 0.21 | Awaiting Construction | 2025-11-06 |
Coherent, Millennium Way - Solar Panels Coherent · DM/25/01544/PN56 · 1.7 mo to decide | — | Awaiting Construction | 2025-08-01 |
Hackworth Road, North West Industrial Estate - Solar Panels ABEI Energy Green IX Limited · DM/25/02042/FPA | 15.4 | Application Submitted | 2025-07-31 |
Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane - Solar Panels Development at Benridge Farm · DM/25/01964/FPA | 48 | Application Submitted | 2025-07-18 |
Hallfield Farm, Easington - Solar Farm Eden Renewables · DM/25/01881/FPA | 49.9 | Application Submitted | 2025-07-12 |
Harehill Farm, Haswell Plough - Solar Farm & Battery Energy Storage Hare Hill Solar Limited · DM/24/03473/FPA · 6.3 mo to decide | 31.5 | Application Refused | 2025-07-04 |
Barnard Castle - Solar Farm & Battery Storage System Farm Energy Company · DM/23/02510/FPA · 21.6 mo to decide | 16 | Awaiting Construction | 2025-06-10 |
PFF Packaging, Salters Lane Industrial Estate, Sedgefield - Solar PV Panels SSE Enterprise Contracting · DM/25/00776/PN56 | 1 | Application Submitted | 2025-03-19 |
Fox Cover Solar Farm - Ground Mounted Photovoltaic Panels Enviromena Project Management UK Limited · DM/24/00783/FPA · 11.6 mo to decide | 8 | Awaiting Construction | 2025-03-12 |
Seaham Solar Park, Stockton Road - Solar Farm Elements Green · DM/25/00287/FPA | 48 | Application Submitted | 2025-02-25 |
Croxdale Farms, Hett Moor Farm - Solar Farm Lightsource SPV 189 Limited · DM/23/01868/FPA · 16.8 mo to decide | 49.9 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-11-14 |
King James I Academy, South Church Road - Solar Panels Solar Options for Schools Limited · DM/24/01472/FPA · 2 mo to decide | 0.22 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-09-30 |
Derwentside Environmental Testing Servs Limited - Solar pv panels Olympus Power · DM/24/01316/FPA · 3.7 mo to decide | 0.38 | Operational | 2024-09-11 |
Thorn Lighting, Butchers Race - Solar Panels Colliers Building Consultancy Limited · DM/24/01556/PN56 · 1.7 mo to decide | 1.7 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-08-02 |
King James I Academy, South Church Road - Solar Panels Solar Options for Schools Limited · DM/24/01473/LB | 0.27 | Application Withdrawn | 2024-07-03 |
Boldon House, Wheatlands Way - Solar Panels Durham University · DM/24/01003/PN56 · 1.4 mo to decide | 0.17 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-05-28 |
Bluestone Farm, Low Lands - Solar Farm Bluefield Renewable Developments Limited · DM/23/00486/FPA · 15.2 mo to decide | 49.99 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-05-28 |
Derwentside Environmental Testing Servs Limited - Solar pv panels Olympus Power · DM/24/00859/PN56 | 0.38 | Revised | 2024-05-17 |
West House Farm, Fishburn - Solar Farm Voltis Renewables� · DM/22/03757/FPA · 15.1 mo to decide | 41.4 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-04-16 |
South Causey Inn, Causey Road - Solar PV Panels South Causey Hotel · DM/23/02574/FPA · 5.9 mo to decide | 0.16 | Application Refused | 2024-03-05 |
Lighthouse View Road - Solar Panels Renewable Energy Management · DM/23/03714/PN56 · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.35 | Awaiting Construction | 2024-02-01 |
Bishop Auckland College, Woodhouse Lane - Solar Pv Panels Bishop Auckland College · DM/23/03137/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.25 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-12-14 |
Roman Factory, Whitworth Avenue - Solar PV Panels Roman Limited · DM/23/03136/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.2 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-12-14 |
Josephine Butler College Main Building, South Road - Solar Panels Durham University · DM/23/02655/FPA · 1.9 mo to decide | — | Awaiting Construction | 2023-11-03 |
Harelaw Industrial Estate - Solar Panels Doby Verrolec Limited · DM/23/02154/PNS · 2.5 mo to decide | 0.89 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-10-16 |
SG Petch, Broomside Park - Solar Panels SG Petch · DM/23/02477/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.16 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-10-11 |
Lighthouse View Road - Solar Panels Renewable Energy Management · DM/23/02907/PNS | 0.35 | Revised | 2023-09-28 |
Grey College, South Road - Solar Panels Durham University · DM/23/02324/PNS · 1.6 mo to decide | 0.19 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-09-22 |
The Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle - Solar Pv Panels Durham University · DM/23/02325/PNS · 1.6 mo to decide | — | Awaiting Construction | 2023-09-20 |
The Neville Hamlin Building, Thomas Wright Way - Solar Panels Centre for Process Innovation Limited · DM/23/01431/PNS · 1.6 mo to decide | 0.25 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-07-28 |
Edge Lane, Maiden Law - Solar Farm & Battery Storage Lightsource BP · DM/22/01769/FPA · 12.4 mo to decide | 49.9 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-07-13 |
Collingwood College, South Road - Solar Panels Howarth Litchfield Partnership · DM/23/00922/FPA · 2.6 mo to decide | — | Awaiting Construction | 2023-06-20 |
East Durham College, Willerby Grove - Solar panels East Durham & Houghall Community College · DM/23/01037/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.46 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-06-08 |
Hawthorn Pit -Solar Farm Aura Power Developments Limited · DM/21/03420/FPA · 19.6 mo to decide | 49.9 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-05-25 |
Electrix International, South Church Enterprise Park - Solar Panels Electrix International Limited · DM/23/00404/PNS · 2 mo to decide | 0.19 | Awaiting Construction | 2023-04-11 |
Horndale Avenue - Solar PV System Private Developer · DM/21/04115/FPA | 0.25 | Application Withdrawn | 2022-12-05 |
B H K UK Davy Drive - Solar Panels BHK (UK) Limited · DM/22/00800/FPA · 3.2 mo to decide | 1.34 | Under Construction | 2022-07-04 |
Hett Moor Farm, Hett - Solar Farm Lightsource SPV 189 Limited · DM/21/02990/FPA · 10.1 mo to decide | 49.9 | Revised | 2022-06-22 |
York Road - Solar PV panels Durham County Council · DM/21/04245/PNS · 5.4 mo to decide | 0.15 | Awaiting Construction | 2022-05-30 |
Amazon UK Services - Photovoltaic System Zestec Asset Management · DM/21/01744/FPA · 2.7 mo to decide | 3.45 | Awaiting Construction | 2022-04-06 |
Number One Industrial Estate - Solar Panels Gardner Aerospace · DM/22/00431/FPA · 1.5 mo to decide | 1.02 | Awaiting Construction | 2022-04-04 |
Peterlee Leisure Centre - Solar Panels Durham County Council · DM/21/03822/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.15 | Awaiting Construction | 2022-02-02 |
Morrisons, Murton - Solar Photovoltaic Array WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc · DM/21/04063/PNS · 1.3 mo to decide | 0.25 | Awaiting Construction | 2022-01-11 |
Sheraton Hall Solar Farm Lightsource BP · DM/20/03722/FPA · 11.7 mo to decide | 49.9 | Awaiting Construction | 2021-12-10 |
Evenwood Lane, Evenwood - Solar PV System Unknown · DM/21/03754/PNS · 1.1 mo to decide | 0.61 | Awaiting Construction | 2021-12-07 |
Number One Industrial Estate - Solar PV system Private Developer · DM/21/03372/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.32 | Awaiting Construction | 2021-11-30 |
Faerch Durham Solar Panels Engerera Renewables Limited · DM/21/01366/PNS · 1.8 mo to decide | 0.61 | Awaiting Construction | 2021-07-27 |
Cowley House Solar Farm Unknown · DM/20/01991/FPA · 6.1 mo to decide | 49.9 | Revised | 2021-01-25 |
Lumley Water Treatment Works - Solar Panels Northumbrian Water Limited · DM/20/03013/CPO · 2 mo to decide | 1.9 | Operational | 2020-12-18 |
Hulam Farm Lightsource BP · DM/19/03959/FPA · 5.7 mo to decide | 49.99 | Revised | 2020-06-17 |
Tesco Store Bishop Auckland Tesco Stores · DM/19/03613/PNS · 1.6 mo to decide | 0.5 | Awaiting Construction | 2020-01-08 |
Bowburn Citrus Durham · DM/15/03912/OUT · 13.8 mo to decide | 5 | Planning Permission Expired | 2017-02-15 |
Hownsgill Industrial Park Project Genesis · DM/15/02364/FPA · 6.1 mo to decide | 5 | Under Construction | 2016-03-01 |
Peterlee Solar Farm Zaravolt Development · DM/15/02290/FPA · 5.7 mo to decide | 5 | Operational | 2016-01-14 |
Green Croft Solar Farm Anesco · DM/15/02279/FPA · 3.4 mo to decide | 5 | Operational | 2015-11-04 |
Comeleon House Solar PV Farm Durham County Council · DM/15/01366/FPA · 1.1 mo to decide | 4 | Abandoned | 2015-06-03 |
Does County Durham approve solar farms?
Yes — of the 46 solar farms County Durham has decided, 93% were approved (43 granted, 3 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.
How long does a solar farm application take in County Durham?
The median time from application to decision is 2 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 County Durham consented?
352 MW has been consented across 43 approved schemes, with 59 MW refused. A further 13 applications awaits a decision.
Other technologies in County Durham
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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