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Renewable planning SolarExeter

Solar planning in Exeter

Exeter has decided 12 solar farms and approved 92% of them, taking a median of 1.6 months to decide. Consented capacity: 6 MW. 2 applications still awaiting a decision.

92%
Approved
11 granted · 1 refused
1.6 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
6 MW
Consented
across approved schemes
1
Appeals
1 allowed on appeal

How Exeter compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Exeter sits in the 31st percentile for approval rate (1 points below the England average) and the 92nd percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 1 (2019)119Approved — 4 (2022)422Approved — 3 (2023)Refused — 1 (2023)423Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (14)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Car Park Guildhall Shopping Centre, Queen Street - Solar Panels
Exeter City Council · 25/1812/FUL
0.32Application Submitted2026-01-19
Emperor House, Grenadier Road - Solar Panels & Car Park Replacement
Oxygen House Limited · 23/1223/FUL · 20.8 mo to decide
0.5Awaiting Construction2025-08-29
Holland Hall, Clydesdale Road - Solar Panels
University of Exeter · 25/0281/FUL · 1.9 mo to decide
0.24Awaiting Construction2025-06-13
Holland Hall, Clydesdale Road - Solar Panels
University of Exeter · 24/1436/FUL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.24Revised2025-02-04
School Of Education, Heavitree Road - Solar Panels
ZLC Energy · 24/1442/PD · 1.5 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2025-01-20
David Lloyd Leisure Club, Sandy Park Way - Solar Panels
David Lloyd Leisure Club · 23/0891/PDPV · 2.5 mo to decide
0.39Awaiting Construction2023-09-28
Belle Vue Road - Solar Array
University of Exeter · 23/0321/FUL · 3.8 mo to decide
1.07Awaiting Construction2023-08-01
The Vapormatic Company - Solar Panels
Vapormatic (Exeter) Limited · 23/0598/PDPV · 1.1 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2023-06-20
Streatham Campus, Stocker Road - Solar Panels
University of Exeter · 22/1682/PDPV · 1.9 mo to decide
Application Refused2023-04-05
Morrison Supermarket, Prince Charles Road - Solar Panels
Morrison · 22/1264/PDPV · 1.3 mo to decide
0.31Awaiting Construction2022-11-14
Matford Way, Matford - Solar Panels
Vospers Motor House · 22/1262/PDPV · 1.1 mo to decide
0.23Awaiting Construction2022-11-10
William Pollard & Co, Oak House - Solar Panels
William Pollard & Co Limited · 22/1148/PDPV · 0.7 mo to decide
0.19Awaiting Construction2022-09-07
Howmet, Kestrel Way - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Howmet Limited · 22/0763 · 0.1 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2022-08-01
Exeter City Council - Solar Panel Array
Exeter City Council · 19/0458/ECC · 1.6 mo to decide
1.2Awaiting Construction2019-10-29

Does Exeter approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 12 solar farms Exeter has decided, 92% were approved (11 granted, 1 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Exeter?

The median time from application to decision is 1.6 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 Exeter consented?

6 MW has been consented across 11 approved schemes. A further 2 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Exeter

Battery storage in ExeterOnshore wind in Exeter

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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