Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarNorth Devon

Solar planning in North Devon

North Devon has decided 23 solar farms and approved 96% of them, taking a median of 4.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 125 MW. 2 applications still awaiting a decision.

96%
Approved
22 granted · 1 refused
4.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
125 MW
Consented
2 MW refused
3
Appeals
2 allowed on appeal

How North Devon compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, North Devon sits in the 47th percentile for approval rate (3 points above the England average) and the 8th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 3 (2012)312Approved — 3 (2013)313Approved — 3 (2014)314Approved — 3 (2015)Refused — 1 (2015)415Approved — 1 (2019)119Approved — 3 (2021)321Approved — 2 (2022)222Approved — 3 (2023)323Approved — 1 (2024)124
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (27)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Buttercombe Lane - Solar Farm
Exagen Development Limited · 80182
15Application Submitted2025-06-04
Wixland Farm - Solar Farm
NWF Agriculture Limited · 77189 · 7.2 mo to decide
0.61Awaiting Construction2024-06-27
Petroc, Old Sticklepath Hill - Solar Panels
Petroc College Of Further Education · 77398 · 1.8 mo to decide
0.77Awaiting Construction2023-09-05
Perrigo, Exeter Road - Solar Panels
Wrafton Laboratories (Trading as Perrigo) · 76423 · 5.9 mo to decide
5.9Awaiting Construction2023-06-20
West Buckland School, West Buckland - Solar Panels
West Buckland School · 76294 · 4.2 mo to decide
0.41Awaiting Construction2023-06-14
Exeter Road, Braunton - Solar Panels
Perrigo Wrafton Laboratories · 74598 · 4.6 mo to decide
0.75Under Construction2022-05-12
Horwood - Solar array
Private Developer · 74989 · 1.4 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2022-05-05
Perrigo,Wrafton - Solar Photovoltaic System
Perrigo · 74005 · 2 mo to decide
0.53Operational2021-11-01
Litchardon Cross Solar Farm
Aura Power / Infinis Energy Services · 71708 · 9.7 mo to decide
49.9Operational2021-05-14
The Hayloft - Solar panels
All In One Services · 62/41/21/005 · 3 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2021-04-21
Pall Europe Building
Ivy Link Partnership · 66784 · 5.4 mo to decide
0.58Operational2019-12-09
Hollamoor Farm
Solstice Renewables · 60026 · 5.4 mo to decide
2.5Abandoned2016-03-10
Luscott Barton
Sunsave 7 Luscott Barton Ltd/ vogt Solar · 58007 · 12.5 mo to decide
13Operational2015-09-03
Land At Knightacott Cross
Clearwinds · 58895 · 5.6 mo to decide
2.4Appeal Refused2015-08-06
Collacott Farm
Cooper Energy Engineering · 58715 · 4.9 mo to decide
4.5Operational2015-06-15
West Hill Farm
Hazel Capital LLP · 58320 · 4.4 mo to decide
2.4Operational2015-03-05
Bommertown Solar Farm
Steadfast Molland Solar Ltd · 54402 · 24.2 mo to decide
5Operational2014-08-05
Barton Close Farm
British Solar Renewables · 54722 · 18.3 mo to decide
5.5Operational2014-04-15
Capeland Farm
juwi Renewable Energies · 55798 · 8.3 mo to decide
8.3Operational2014-02-28
Kingsland Barton Solar Farm
Padero Solar · 55742 · 4.5 mo to decide
5Operational2013-10-29
Hacche Barton Solar Farm
Lumicity · 54387
9.2Application Withdrawn2013-07-04
Blatchworthy Farm
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 12/01381/MFUL · 5.8 mo to decide
1.5Operational2013-03-22
Hollamoor Farm (PV)
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 54884 · 3 mo to decide
2Operational2013-02-18
West Hill Farm (solar)
Lumicity · 54388 · 3.8 mo to decide
7.3Operational2012-11-30
Horsacott Farm Solar Park
Hazel Capital LLP · 54349 · 4 mo to decide
6.4Operational2012-11-30
Bratton Fleming Solar Farm
Wessex Solar Energy · 51698 · 14.5 mo to decide
5Operational2012-04-17
Kingsland Barton Solar Farm
WRS Energy Ltd · 51860 · 3 mo to decide
5Revised2011-06-24

Does North Devon approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 23 solar farms North Devon has decided, 96% were approved (22 granted, 1 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in North Devon?

The median time from application to decision is 4.9 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 North Devon consented?

125 MW has been consented across 22 approved schemes, with 2 MW refused. A further 2 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in North Devon

Battery storage in North DevonOnshore wind in North Devon

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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