Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarNorth Somerset

Solar planning in North Somerset

North Somerset has decided 39 solar farms and approved 95% of them, taking a median of 2.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 356 MW. 5 applications still awaiting a decision.

95%
Approved
37 granted · 2 refused
2.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
356 MW
Consented
13 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How North Somerset compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, North Somerset sits in the 43rd percentile for approval rate (2 points above the England average) and the 36th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 1 (2012)Refused — 1 (2012)212Refused — 1 (2013)113Approved — 4 (2014)414Approved — 3 (2015)315Approved — 1 (2020)120Approved — 3 (2021)321Approved — 5 (2022)522Approved — 4 (2023)423Approved — 6 (2024)624Approved — 9 (2025)925
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (44)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Manor Farm, Wick Lane - Solar Farm & Battery Storage
Qair UK · 25/P/2609/FUL
49.9Application Submitted2026-01-14
Bournville Primary School, Selworthy Road - Solar Panels
Solar Options for Schools Limited · 25/P/1860/SJA · 2.8 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2025-12-17
Howgrove Farm, Green Lane - Solar Panels
Greenvolt Power UK Limited · 25/02072/EFUL · 5.2 mo to decide
10Awaiting Construction2025-11-03
Yew Tree Farm, Yew Tree Lane - Solar Farm
Yew Tree Farm Solar Limited · 25/P/1418/FUL · 2.5 mo to decide
49.99Awaiting Construction2025-10-08
The Strawberry Line, Brinsea Road - Solar Farm
RWE Renewables UK · 25/P/0809/FUL · 4.1 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2025-08-26
East Dundry Lane, Norton Hawsfield - Solar Farm
Unknown · 25/13047/K
Application Submitted2025-07-08
East Dundry Lane, Norton Hawkfield - Solar Farm
Enviromena · 25/02595/EFUL
15Application Submitted2025-07-02
Dolemoor Lane, Congresbury - Solar Farm
Oldbridge Solar Farm Limited · 25/P/1098/FUL
40Application Submitted2025-06-20
Weston College University Campus, Loxton Road - Air Source Heat Pumps
Weston College · 25/P/0096/FUL · 1.9 mo to decide
0.42Awaiting Construction2025-04-09
Weston College - Solar Panels
Weston College · 25/P/0095/SJA · 2.5 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2025-04-02
Epic Long Ashton, Phase 1 - 3 Office Buildings
Epic Systems · 23/P/2185/FU2 · 16.2 mo to decide
1.05Under Construction2025-03-06
Brinsea Green Farm, Brinsea Lane - Solar Photovoltaic
RWE Renewables UK · 23/P/2159/FUL · 16.2 mo to decide
30Awaiting Construction2025-02-28
Coleman Building, Portishead - Solar Panels
Masters Golf · 24/P/2237/SJA · 2.6 mo to decide
0.15Awaiting Construction2025-01-09
Etex Building Performance, Redland Avenue - Solar PV panels
PROMAT UK/Etex Building Performance Limited · 24/P/2345/SJA · 1.8 mo to decide
5.9Awaiting Construction2024-12-30
Etex Building Performance, Redland Avenue - Solar Panels
PROMAT UK/Etex Building Performance Limited · 24/P/2346/SJA · 1.8 mo to decide
6.17Awaiting Construction2024-12-30
Kitland Solar Farm
Statkraft UK Limited · 24/P/1011/FUL · 6.9 mo to decide
39.99Awaiting Construction2024-12-19
Sandbay, Elmsley Lane, Kewstoke - Solar Farm
Solar Southwest · 22/P/3036/FUL · 19.6 mo to decide
24.5Awaiting Construction2024-10-03
Yanel Farm, Churchill Green - Solar Farm
Capital Dynamics Limited · 22/P/1450/FUL · 21.1 mo to decide
49.9Awaiting Construction2024-04-18
Morrisons, Worle Moor Gate - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Gondola Pro · 24/P/0109/SJA · 1.9 mo to decide
0.35Awaiting Construction2024-03-20
Haberfield Park Farm - Solar Farm
PS Renewables Limited · 23/P/1061/FUL · 5.8 mo to decide
5Awaiting Construction2023-11-17
Sewage Treatment Works, Warth Lane - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Wessex Water Services Limited · 23/P/2126/LDP · 1.2 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2023-11-08
Smart Systems Limited, Arnolds Way - Solar Panels
Smart Systems Limited · 23/P/1277/FUL · 2.9 mo to decide
2.93Under Construction2023-10-02
David Lloyd Leisure Plc, Ashton Road - Solar PV panels
David Lloyd Fitness Centre · 23/P/1515/SJA · 2.1 mo to decide
0.7Awaiting Construction2023-09-21
Arnolds Way, Yatton - Solar Panels
Stowells Concrete Limited · 22/P/0506/SJA · 8.1 mo to decide
0.84Under Construction2022-10-27
Green Lane, Nempnett Thrubwell - Solar Farm
Green Switch Capital Limited · 22/00364/FUL · 8 mo to decide
9.1Awaiting Construction2022-10-04
Lower Strode Road - Solar Photovoltaic Panels
HM & K I Stowell & Son · 22/P/1696/SJA · 1.7 mo to decide
0.29Awaiting Construction2022-08-30
Langford - Roof Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Monaghan Mushrooms · 22/P/0618/SJA · 1.7 mo to decide
0.63Awaiting Construction2022-04-29
Bowerhouse Farm (extension)
Ethical Power · 20/P/0620/FUL · 23.8 mo to decide
19.8Under Construction2022-03-25
Cadbury Garden And Leisure - Solar PV Panels
Blue Diamond Group · 21/P/2797/SJA · 1.7 mo to decide
0.5Awaiting Construction2021-11-24
Roper Rhodes Limited - Roof Solar PV
Roper Rhodes Limited · 21/P/2373/SJA · 2.2 mo to decide
0.77Awaiting Construction2021-10-21
Weston General Hospital - Photovoltaic Installation Project
Weston NHS Foundation Trust · 21/P/2454/SJA
Application Submitted2021-08-23
Nailsea Rescue Centre, Nailsea - Solar Panels
Avon Fire and Rescue Service · 21/P/1395/SJA · 2.9 mo to decide
Operational2021-08-06
Lag Farm
Yeo Valley Farms · 19/P/3087/SJA · 1.5 mo to decide
1Operational2020-01-27
Smart Systems
D2Smart Projects · 15/P/0957/F · 5.1 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2015-09-28
Land at New Orchard Farm
Solar Power South · 14/P/2283/F · 8.3 mo to decide
5Planning Permission Expired2015-06-30
The Grange
Elgin Energy EsCo · 14/P/1938/F · 4.9 mo to decide
8Operational2015-02-03
Towerbrook Farm (Banwell Solar Farm)
Aquila Capital · 14/P/1842/F · 3.1 mo to decide
7.2Operational2014-11-28
Congresbury Solar Farm
FIM Solar Distribution · 14/P/1319/F · 5.1 mo to decide
7.1Operational2014-11-20
Bowerhouse Farm
KWTN Solar · 14/P/1666/F · 3 mo to decide
8.3Operational2014-10-30
Iwood Lane Solar Farm
Wessex Solar Energy · 13/P/2382/F · 5 mo to decide
8Operational2014-05-14
South Hill Farm solar park
Energi · 13/P/0854/F2 · 3.3 mo to decide
7.8Application Refused2013-08-21
Garleys Wood Solar Park
Wessex Solar Energy · 12/P/1654/F · 2.7 mo to decide
5Application Refused2012-12-10
Twin Elm Solar Farm
Lightsource BP · 12/P/0490/F · 2.8 mo to decide
1Operational2012-06-11
Bristol Airport Solar Farm
Bristol Airport
Under Construction

Does North Somerset approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 39 solar farms North Somerset has decided, 95% were approved (37 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

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

The median time from application to decision is 2.9 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 Somerset consented?

356 MW has been consented across 37 approved schemes, with 13 MW refused. A further 5 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in North Somerset

Battery storage in North SomersetOnshore wind in North Somerset

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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