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Renewable planning SolarSouth Hams

Solar planning in South Hams

South Hams has decided 27 solar farms and approved 93% of them, taking a median of 3.3 months to decide. Consented capacity: 114 MW. 2 applications still awaiting a decision.

93%
Approved
25 granted · 2 refused
3.3 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
114 MW
Consented
11 MW refused
3
Appeals
2 allowed on appeal

How South Hams compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, South Hams sits in the 35th percentile for approval rate (level with the England average) and the 24th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 1 (2011)111Approved — 3 (2012)312Approved — 3 (2013)Refused — 1 (2013)413Approved — 7 (2014)714Approved — 1 (2015)Refused — 1 (2015)215Approved — 2 (2016)216Approved — 1 (2018)118Approved — 3 (2022)322Approved — 3 (2024)324Approved — 1 (2025)125
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (31)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Vacsax - Solar Panels
Vacsax Limited · 0222/25/PST · 1.5 mo to decide
Awaiting Construction2025-03-20
Western Wood Way, Langage Business Park - Solar Panels
Artemis Optical Limited · 3036/24/PST · 1.5 mo to decide
0.13Awaiting Construction2024-11-08
Mayflower Water Treatment Works, Roborough Down - Solar Array
South West Water · 1619/23/FUL · 7.1 mo to decide
1.56Awaiting Construction2024-02-28
Bandvulc Remoulds, Gillard Way - Solar Photovoltaics System
Bandvulc Tyres Limited · 2620/23/FUL · 4.1 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2024-01-31
Littlehempston Water Treatment Works, Littlehempston - Solar Array
South West Water · 2929/23/FUL
Application Submitted2023-10-25
Endsleigh Garden Centre, Endsleigh - Solar PV Panels
Blue Diamond Limited · 3075/22/PST · 3.1 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2022-12-04
Western Wood Way, Plympton - Solar Panels
Artemis Optical Limited · 1914/22/PST · 1.8 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2022-07-25
Tamerton Road, Roborough - Solar Panels
Plessey Semi Conductors Limited · 0655/22/PST · 1.6 mo to decide
1Awaiting Construction2022-04-06
Creacombe Solar Farm
Gnaton Farm · 1109/17/FUL · 10.6 mo to decide
7.3Operational2018-03-14
Newton Downs Farm
Core Aries (Renewable Energy) · 37/1426/15/F · 12.6 mo to decide
5Operational2016-07-15
Land at Oldstone Farm
British Solar Renewables · 06/1725/15/F · 8.3 mo to decide
5Operational2016-04-14
Place Barton Farm
British Solar Renewables · 22/0848/15/F · 5.2 mo to decide
4.9Operational2015-09-21
Lower Blakemore Farm
New Energy for the World · 23/2373/14/F · 8.8 mo to decide
5Appeal Refused2015-06-18
Colleen Farm
Bowler Energy · 22/1610/14/F · 9 mo to decide
2.2Abandoned2015-03-26
Newnham Estate
Solstice Renewables · 49/2133/14/F · 3.4 mo to decide
14Operational2014-11-27
Parkview solar park
NextEnergy · 50/1623/14/F · 4.1 mo to decide
6.5Operational2014-10-28
Lee Moor China Clay Works
Wanageeska · DCC/3689/2014 · 2.7 mo to decide
9.5Operational2014-10-27
Balls Wood Solar Farm
Due South Energy & SunE Project6 Ltd · 07/1814/14/F · 3 mo to decide
8.7Operational2014-10-14
Coombeshead Solar Farm
Foresight · 17/0265/14/F · 6.9 mo to decide
8Operational2014-08-29
Lower Slade Farm
PS Renewables · 08_28/0430/13/F · 17.6 mo to decide
4.1Operational2014-08-11
Blackawton Solar Farm
Maria Bailey Planning · 06/2883/13/F · 3 mo to decide
3Operational2014-03-04
Yealmpton
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 62/2326/13/F
2.6Application Withdrawn2013-12-02
Halwell Airfield
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 22/2050/13/F · 2.6 mo to decide
5.7Application Refused2013-11-22
Bidwell Solar Farm
Wessex Solar Energy · 14/1040/13/F · 2 mo to decide
5Operational2013-07-01
Hazard Farm
TGC Renewables · 23/2485/12/F · 6.4 mo to decide
6.4Operational2013-05-13
Bidwell Solar Park
Wessex Solar Energy · 14/2182/12/F
5Revised2013-04-05
Luson Farm
Lightsource Renewable Energy · 21/2606/12/F · 2 mo to decide
1.9Operational2013-01-08
Warleigh Barton Solar Farm
Low Carbon Solar · 04/0770/11/F · 17.1 mo to decide
5Operational2012-11-02
Hatchlands Farm
Orta Solar · 23/1754/12/F · 2.7 mo to decide
5.2Operational2012-10-23
Marley Thatch Solar Farm
TGC Renewables · 39_45/0706/12/F · 3 mo to decide
6.3Operational2012-06-28
Langage Solar Farm
Terrence O'Rourke Ltd · 49/0277/11/F · 2.3 mo to decide
5Operational2011-03-31

Does South Hams approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 27 solar farms South Hams has decided, 93% were approved (25 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

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

The median time from application to decision is 3.3 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 Hams consented?

114 MW has been consented across 25 approved schemes, with 11 MW refused. A further 2 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in South Hams

Battery storage in South HamsOnshore wind in South Hams

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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