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Renewable planning SolarSt. Helens

Solar planning in St. Helens

St. Helens has decided 11 solar farms and approved 91% of them, taking a median of 1.6 months to decide. Consented capacity: 5 MW. 2 applications still awaiting a decision.

91%
Approved
10 granted · 1 refused
1.6 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
5 MW
Consented
across approved schemes
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How St. Helens compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, St. Helens sits in the 27th percentile for approval rate (2 points below the England average) and the 92nd percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 1 (2019)119Approved — 1 (2022)122Approved — 1 (2023)123Approved — 2 (2024)Refused — 1 (2024)324Approved — 5 (2025)525
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (14)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Arnold Clark Renault, Delphwood Drive - Solar Panels
Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited · P/2026/0072/SOL
0.2Application Submitted2026-02-10
Enviropax, Hall Wood Avenue - Solar Panels
Mileway · P/2026/0063/SOL
0.21Application Submitted2026-01-30
The Sutton Academy, Elton Head Road - Solar Panels
Located Property Limited · P/2025/0428/SOL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.38Awaiting Construction2025-09-16
Lea Green Business Park, Eurolink - Solar Panels
Indurent PropCo B1 Limited · P/2025/0313/SOL · 1.6 mo to decide
0.31Awaiting Construction2025-07-18
Mere Grange, Leaside - Solar Panels
RR UK (South) Limited · P/2025/0247/SOL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.22Awaiting Construction2025-06-06
Queens Park Health And Fitness - Solar Panels
Private Developer · P/2024/0645/SOL · 1.6 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2025-02-06
Newton Le Willows Health And Fitness - Solar Panels
Luke Mason · P/2024/0613/SOL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2025-01-23
Omega West, St Helens, Unit 4, Zone 8 - Solar Panels
Omega St Helens Limited · P/2024/0615/SOL
0.71Application Withdrawn2025-01-23
Lea Green Business Park, Eurolink - Solar Panels
Industrials Management Limited · P/2024/0237/SOL · 1.6 mo to decide
0.55Awaiting Construction2024-06-27
College Street - Solar Panels
Pilkington · P/2024/0229/SOL · 1.3 mo to decide
1.19Awaiting Construction2024-06-17
DTC St Helens Hospital, Marshalls Cross Road - Solar Panels
St Helens Hospital · P/2024/0168/SOL · 1.6 mo to decide
0.21Application Refused2024-05-15
St Helens Rugby League Stadium, Peasley Cross Lane - Solar Panels
SCS Lighting & Renewables · P/2022/0806/SOL · 1.6 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2023-01-09
Starbank Panel Products, Junction Lane - Solar Panels
Starbank Panel Products Limited · P/2022/0567/SOL · 1.8 mo to decide
0.46Awaiting Construction2022-10-03
Bellerophon Way Tesco
Tesco Stores · P/2019/0175/SOL · 1.7 mo to decide
0.4Awaiting Construction2019-05-03

Does St. Helens approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 11 solar farms St. Helens has decided, 91% were approved (10 granted, 1 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in St. Helens?

The median time from application to decision is 1.6 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 St. Helens consented?

5 MW has been consented across 10 approved schemes. A further 2 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in St. Helens

Battery storage in St. HelensOnshore wind in St. Helens

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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