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Renewable planning SolarForest of Dean

Solar planning in Forest of Dean

Forest of Dean has decided 25 solar farms and approved 76% of them, taking a median of 3.1 months to decide. Consented capacity: 116 MW. 4 applications still awaiting a decision.

76%
Approved
19 granted · 6 refused
3.1 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
116 MW
Consented
130 MW refused
1
Appeals
0 allowed on appeal

How Forest of Dean compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Forest of Dean sits in the 5th percentile for approval rate (17 points below the England average) and the 29th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 2 (2011)211Approved — 3 (2013)313Approved — 1 (2014)Refused — 1 (2014)214Approved — 4 (2015)Refused — 2 (2015)615Refused — 1 (2016)116Approved — 1 (2019)119Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 2 (2022)222Approved — 1 (2023)Refused — 2 (2023)323Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (30)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Noble Green Energy - Solar Panels
Noble Green Energy · P1272/25/PJ14PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.89Awaiting Construction2025-12-03
Lightwood Solar Farm - Solar Panels
Eden AW Solar Ltd · P0498/25/FUL
40Application Submitted2025-05-06
Reecer Space, Ashwell Grange Lodge - Solar Panels
Nimbus Solar Limited · P0267/25/PJ14PA · 1.7 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-04-25
Chessgrove Farm, Chessgrove Lane - Solar Arrays
S Batt Limited · P0210/25/PJ14PA · 1.7 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-04-11
Severn & Wye, Claxhill - Solar Panels & Battery Energy Storage System
Olsa Futures Limited · P0146/25/FUL
1Application Submitted2025-02-13
Gravel Farm, Cleeve - Solar Farm
Relay Gravel Limited · P1773/22/FUL
32Application Withdrawn2024-02-29
Highleadon - Solar Arrays & Battery Storage
RWE · P0265/22/FUL · 19.8 mo to decide
49.9Operational2023-10-11
Stream Lane, Upleadon - Solar Photovoltaic Farm
Pathfinder Clean Energy UK Dev Limited · P1350/22/FUL · 9.2 mo to decide
6Application Refused2023-07-12
Murrells End Farm - Solar Arrays
Elgin Energy EsCo Limited · P0271/22/FUL · 9.4 mo to decide
49.9Application Refused2023-03-15
Woodgate Sawmills, Buckstone Close - Solar Panels
Woodgate Sawmills Limited · P1445/22/PJ14PA · 1.6 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2022-12-15
Leeways Packaging Services, Laymore Road - Solar Panels
Leeways Packaging Services Limited · P1392/22/PJ14PA · 1.7 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2022-11-25
Moat Farm - Solar Farm
Elgin Energy EsCo Limited · P2061/21/FUL
49.9Application Submitted2022-01-25
Locquiers Farm, Plump Hill - Solar Farm
Opdenergy UK 3 Limited · P0980/21/FUL · 6.7 mo to decide
15.7Awaiting Construction2021-12-15
Leeways
Mypower Solar · P1671/18/FUL · 3.1 mo to decide
0.5Operational2019-01-23
Awre Penisular Farmer's Community Solar Scheme
Awre Peninsula Farmers' Community Solar Scheme · P0664/15/FUL · 7.5 mo to decide
49.9Application Refused2016-01-19
Cowles Farm
Wessex Solar Energy · P0856/15/FUL · 3.5 mo to decide
5Appeal Refused2015-10-15
Tump Solar Farm
Green Energy UK Direct · P0578/15/FUL · 3.3 mo to decide
5Operational2015-08-14
Yorkley Solar Park
Bee Green Solar · P0278/15/FUL · 1.6 mo to decide
5Operational2015-06-30
Land At Rymes Farm (Phase 1)
TGC Renewables · P1977/14/FUL · 5.6 mo to decide
6.9Operational2015-06-12
Land At Rymes Farm (Phase 2)/Grange Solar Farm
Solar Century (TGC Renewables) · P1976/14/FUL · 5.6 mo to decide
6.8Operational2015-06-12
Vantage Point Business Park
Bee Green Solar · P1957/14/FUL · 2 mo to decide
3.6Application Refused2015-03-16
Nibley Mill Farm
AEE Renewables · P0871/14/FUL · 3.4 mo to decide
15.9Application Refused2014-09-10
Sedbury Park
Bee Green Solar · P1628/13/FUL · 5.4 mo to decide
5Operational2014-04-23
Vantage Point Solar Park
Bee Green Solar · P1639/13/FUL · 3.3 mo to decide
3.8Revised2014-02-13
Hurst Farm
Bee Green Solar · P1358/13/FUL · 2.2 mo to decide
5Operational2013-11-15
Pingry Farm - Phase 1
Coleford Energy · P1418/12/FUL · 1.2 mo to decide
3.4Operational2013-04-11
Pingry Farm - Phase 2
Coleford Energy · P1418/12/FUL · 1.2 mo to decide
3.4Operational2013-04-11
Vantage Point
Bee Green Solar · P0825/11/FUL · 1.4 mo to decide
1.4Operational2011-06-15
Stantway Solar Farm
Private Developer · P0031/11/FUL · 3 mo to decide
5Operational2011-04-13
Jones Food Company - Solar Farm
Jones Food Company / Zestec Renewable Energy
0.71Operational

Does Forest of Dean approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 25 solar farms Forest of Dean has decided, 76% were approved (19 granted, 6 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Forest of Dean?

The median time from application to decision is 3.1 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 Forest of Dean consented?

116 MW has been consented across 19 approved schemes, with 130 MW refused. A further 4 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Forest of Dean

Battery storage in Forest of DeanOnshore wind in Forest of Dean

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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