Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarSouth Cambridgeshire

Solar planning in South Cambridgeshire

South Cambridgeshire has decided 41 solar farms and approved 88% of them, taking a median of 3.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 341 MW. 6 applications still awaiting a decision.

88%
Approved
36 granted · 5 refused
3.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
341 MW
Consented
84 MW refused
2
Appeals
0 allowed on appeal

How South Cambridgeshire compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, South Cambridgeshire sits in the 21st percentile for approval rate (5 points below the England average) and the 16th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 2 (2011)Refused — 1 (2011)311Approved — 2 (2012)2Approved — 1 (2013)113Approved — 9 (2014)Refused — 1 (2014)10Approved — 1 (2015)Refused — 1 (2015)215Refused — 1 (2016)1Approved — 1 (2020)120Refused — 1 (2021)1Approved — 3 (2022)322Approved — 5 (2023)5Approved — 4 (2024)424Approved — 5 (2025)5Approved — 1 (2026)126
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (50)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Malton Golf Club, Malton Road - Solar Panels
Rand Brothers · 25/03983/PRIOR · 1.8 mo to decide
0.41Awaiting Construction2026-01-28
Cambridge Waste Management Park - Solar Farm
Alboro Developments Limited · 25/02021/FUL · 5.5 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-11-17
Cambridge Assesment, Whittlesford - Solar PV Array
Cambridge University Press & Assessment · 25/01763/FUL · 2.8 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-09-25
Streetly Hall Farm, Webbs Road - Solar Panels
Streetly Hall Farm · 25/02761/PRIOR · 1.8 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2025-09-08
Grain Stores, West Wratting - Solar Array
Cam Grain Limited · 25/01260/FUL · 5.1 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-09-05
River Mel Solar Farm & Battery Storage System
Quintas Cleantech · 25/02739/FUL
25Application Submitted2025-07-23
Falcon Park, Wilsons Road - Solar Farm & Battery Energy Storage
Regener8 Power Limited · 25/02539/FUL
26Application Submitted2025-06-27
South Farm, Shingay Cum Wendy - Ground Mounted Solar Array
BeBa Energy UK Limited · 24/03999/FUL · 7.4 mo to decide
0.18Awaiting Construction2025-06-06
Low Fen, Drove Way - Solar Farm
South Cambridgeshire District Council · 25/01014/FUL
49.99Application Submitted2025-03-14
Bassingbourn Barracks, Old North Road - Solar PV Arrays
Defence Infrastructure Organisation · 24/00481/FUL · 4.8 mo to decide
2.3Awaiting Construction2024-07-17
New Road, Impington - Solar panels
Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital · 24/00846/PRIOR · 1.4 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2024-05-03
Domino House, Trafalgar Way - Solar panels
Domino UK Limited · 24/00294/PRIOR · 1.7 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2024-03-18
Coldhams Business Park, Norman Way - Solar Panels
Centrica Business Solutions · 23/04444/PRIOR · 3.7 mo to decide
0.5Awaiting Construction2024-03-14
Dalehead Foods, Linton - Solar PV Panels
EDF Renewables · 23/03953/PRIOR · 1.8 mo to decide
0.89Awaiting Construction2023-12-13
Barton Road, Barton - Solar Farm
Cambridge University Director Of Estates · 22/00051/FUL · 19.1 mo to decide
5Awaiting Construction2023-08-09
Highfield Farm, Royston Road - Solar Farm & Battery Storage
Grupotec Solar 3 UK Limited · 23/01317/FUL · 3.9 mo to decide
18Awaiting Construction2023-08-03
Dalehead Foods, Cambridge Road - Solar Panels
EDF Energy Renewables · 23/02811/PRIOR
0.79Revised2023-07-21
3-5 Stirling Way, Papworth Everard - Solar PV Panels
Cambridge University Press & Assessment · 22/02522/FUL · 9.1 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2023-04-21
Coton Orchard Garden Centre, Cambridge Road - Solar Panels
Blue Diamond Limited · 22/04950/PRIOR · 2.2 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2023-01-17
Stargoose Farm - Solar Farm
Solarcentury Limited / Statkraft Uk Limited · 21/02173/FUL · 11.1 mo to decide
49.99Awaiting Construction2022-04-14
CRM Surgical, 1 Evolution Business Park - Solar Panels
Beba Energy · 22/00497/PRIOR · 2 mo to decide
0.8Awaiting Construction2022-04-04
Morrisons , Broad Street, Cambourne - Solar Panles
WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc · 22/00577/PRIOR · 1.7 mo to decide
0.48Awaiting Construction2022-03-31
Burton End
Private Developer · 20/01564/FUL · 18.2 mo to decide
1.5Application Refused2021-12-13
Ely Road Waste Management Park
Alboro Developments · S/4028/19/FL · 4.2 mo to decide
1.1Operational2020-03-27
Lamp Hill Wimpole Estate
National Trust · S/0449/19/FL
0.4Operational2019-02-07
Rectory Farm
Push Energy · S/2642/15/FL
5Application Withdrawn2016-04-01
Abbey Farm
Push Energy · S/2617/15/FL
5Application Withdrawn2016-04-01
Cambridge Solar Farm
Big 60 Million · S/1714/15/FL · 7.3 mo to decide
49.9Application Refused2016-02-11
Chittering Solar Farm - extension 2
Abbey Renewables (North Fen Solar Energy) · S/1331/14/FL · 12.2 mo to decide
9.6Awaiting Construction2015-06-16
Manor Farm
Thriplow Farms · S/1687/14/FL · 5.1 mo to decide
14Application Refused2015-01-14
Black Peak Farm
Lightsource Renewable Energy · S/1902/14/FL · 4.3 mo to decide
31.8Operational2014-12-15
Sawston Solar Farm (Land North of Dales Manor Business Park)
Sawston Solar Farm · S/2409/14/FL · 1.9 mo to decide
14Appeal Refused2014-12-12
Munceys Farm
Lightsource Renewable Energy · S/1898/14/FL · 3.6 mo to decide
31.6Operational2014-11-24
Royston Solar Farm (Phase 1)
Canadian Solar · S/1427/14/FL · 3.9 mo to decide
5Planning Permission Expired2014-10-29
Royston Solar Farm (Phase 1) (a)
Canadian Solar · S/1427/14/FL · 3.9 mo to decide
5Operational2014-10-29
Royston Solar Farm (Phase 2)
Canadian Solar · S/1427/14/FL · 3.9 mo to decide
4Planning Permission Expired2014-10-29
Sawston Solar Farm Land North of Dales Manor Business Park
Sawston Solar Farm · S/1615/14/FL · 2.3 mo to decide
28Revised2014-10-07
Bassingbourn Solar Farm
Push Energy · S/0098/14/FL · 7.4 mo to decide
14.4Operational2014-08-29
Croydon / Church Farm (Royston)
Push Energy/ NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) · S/2293/13/FL · 9 mo to decide
16.5Operational2014-08-01
Great Wilbraham Solar Farm
Inazin Energy Limited / Low Carbon · S/2763/13/FL · 6.4 mo to decide
38.1Operational2014-07-28
Bury Lane Fruit Farm
Vortex (formerly Sun Edison) · S/2616/13/FL · 4.8 mo to decide
24Operational2014-05-12
Vine Farm Solar Park
Allianz · S/1067/14/FL
45Operational2014-05-09
Manor Farm
Thriplow Farms · S/2080/13/FL
14Revised2014-01-07
Hoback Farm
TGC Renewables · S/0155/13/FL · 5 mo to decide
13.1Operational2013-07-15
Skylark Meadow Solar park
Anesco · S/1611/12/FL · 3 mo to decide
5Operational2012-11-13
Chittering Solar Farm Extension
Abbey Properties Cambs · S/1542/12/FL · 2.7 mo to decide
6.3Operational2012-10-15
Croydon Solar Farm
Vogt Solar · S/0319/11
5Application Withdrawn2011-06-21
Cantelupe Solar Farm
Innogy (previously - Belectric (previously Alectron Investments Ltd)) · S/0154/11 · 2.9 mo to decide
5Operational2011-04-27
Chittering Solar Farm
Abbey Renewables · S/2198/10 · 3 mo to decide
5Operational2011-03-15
Bourn Solar Farm
Eclipse Planning Services� · S/2205/10 · 2.8 mo to decide
5Application Refused2011-03-08

Does South Cambridgeshire approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 41 solar farms South Cambridgeshire has decided, 88% were approved (36 granted, 5 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in South Cambridgeshire?

The median time from application to decision is 3.9 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 South Cambridgeshire consented?

341 MW has been consented across 36 approved schemes, with 84 MW refused. A further 6 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in South Cambridgeshire

Battery storage in South CambridgeshireOnshore wind in South Cambridgeshire

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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