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Renewable planning › Solar › Sunderland

Solar planning in Sunderland

Sunderland has decided 26 solar farms and approved 92% of them, taking a median of 1.9 months to decide. Consented capacity: 41 MW. 8 applications still awaiting a decision.

92%
Approved
24 granted · 2 refused
1.9 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
41 MW
Consented
38 MW refused
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Sunderland compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Sunderland sits in the 31st percentile for approval rate (1 points below the England average) and the 62nd percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

510Approved — 1 (2015)Refused — 1 (2015)215Approved — 1 (2019)119Approved — 1 (2020)120Approved — 2 (2021)221Approved — 4 (2022)422Approved — 6 (2023)623Approved — 4 (2024)424Approved — 4 (2025)Refused — 1 (2025)525Approved — 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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (35)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
University Of Sunderland, Saint Peters Gate - Solar Panels
University of Sunderland · 26/00330/PCZ
0.23Application Submitted2026-02-17
Stephenson Industrial Estate, Rutherford Road - Solar Panels
Novalux Energy · 26/00168/PCZ
0.21Application Submitted2026-01-22
Washington Primary Care Centre, Parkway - Solar Panels
City Hospital Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust · 25/02599/PCZ · 1.9 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2026-01-22
SNOP UK, Washington Road - Solar Panels
SNOP UK Limited · 26/00033/PCZ
1.15Application Submitted2026-01-12
Usworth House Farm, Peareth Hall Road - Solar Farm
Boom Developments Limited · 22/02803/FU4 · 33.4 mo to decide
27.3Application Refused2025-10-31
Venerable Bede Church Of England Academy - Solar Panels
Solar Options for Schools Limited · 25/02272/PCZ · 0 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2025-10-09
The Cylinder Service Centre, Sedling Road - Solar Panels
Cylinder Service Centre · 25/01327/PCZ · 1.8 mo to decide
0.2Awaiting Construction2025-09-04
Salters Lane - Solar Panels
Grupotec Solar Uk 9 Limited · 25/01440/FU4
—Application Submitted2025-07-11
Morrisons, Doxford Park - Solar Panels
Sigma Grp · 25/00474/PCZ · 1.8 mo to decide
0.39Awaiting Construction2025-05-01
Clearly Drinks, Riverside Road - Solar Panels
Clearly Drinks Limited · 25/00114/PCZ · 1.4 mo to decide
0.25Awaiting Construction2025-03-07
Rolls Royce Plc, Radial Park Road - Solar Panels
Rolls Royce · 24/02058/PCZ · 1.8 mo to decide
1.57Awaiting Construction2024-12-09
Faltec, International Drive - Solar panels
Faltec Europe Limited · 24/01976/PCZ · 1.8 mo to decide
0.67Awaiting Construction2024-11-26
Sunderland City Council Independent Living Centre - Solar Panels
Sunderland City Council · 24/01933/LP3
0.22Application Submitted2024-09-18
Hetton Commnity Pool/Wellness Centre, Welfare Road - Solar PV array
Sunderland City Council · 24/01675/LP3
0.19Application Submitted2024-09-09
Faltec, International Drive - Solar panels
Faltec Europe Limited · 24/00351/PCZ · 1.7 mo to decide
0.67Revised2024-07-26
University Of Sunderland Reg Vardy Centre, Liberty Way - Solar Pv System
Sir Tom Cowie Campus · 24/00231/FUL · 2.6 mo to decide
0.71Awaiting Construction2024-06-28
Calsonic Kansei - Solar Array
SNRG Limited · 24/00715/PCZ · 2 mo to decide
2.07Awaiting Construction2024-06-12
University Of Sunderland Reg Vardy Centre, Liberty Way - Solar Pv System
Sir Tom Cowie Campus · 23/02559/PCZ
0.76Revised2024-02-06
Encore Envelopes Limited, Industrial Road - Solar Panels
Advanced Renewable Power Limited · 23/02207/PCZ · 1.6 mo to decide
0.51Awaiting Construction2023-12-07
Marelli, Home Furniture Shop - Solar Panels
Marelli · 23/01319/PCZ
0.97Application Withdrawn2023-08-31
Vantec, Turbine Way - Solar Panels
Vantec Europe Limited · 23/00805/PCZ · 1.9 mo to decide
0.32Awaiting Construction2023-06-15
Vantec, Infiniti Drive - Solar Panels
Vantec Europe Limited · 23/00806/PCZ · 1.9 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2023-06-15
Saint Marys Car Park, Saint Marys Boulevard - Solar Panels
Sunderland City Council · 22/02628/LP3 · 13.1 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2023-02-09
Rocket Medical, Sedling Road - Solar PV System
Rocket Medical Plc · 22/02686/PCZ · 1.9 mo to decide
0.43Awaiting Construction2023-02-06
Snop, Rainhill Road - Solar Panels
SLIPIT · 22/02042/FUL · 1.3 mo to decide
1.24Awaiting Construction2023-01-11
Griffiths Textiles Machines, Alston Road - Solar Panels
Abrdn · 22/01039/PCZ · 1.5 mo to decide
0.7Awaiting Construction2022-09-27
University of Sunderland - Solar PV Panels
Sunderland University · 22/00783/PCZ · 2 mo to decide
0.21Awaiting Construction2022-06-13
Sedling Road - Solar Panels
Roundel Manufacturing Limited · 22/00366/PCZ · 1.4 mo to decide
0.36Awaiting Construction2022-04-07
Spire Road - Solar Array
QE Facilities Limited · 22/00216/PCZ · 1.7 mo to decide
0.25Awaiting Construction2022-03-30
Washington Road - Solar Farm
Engerera Renewables Limited · 21/02381/FUL · 1.8 mo to decide
20Awaiting Construction2021-12-01
Sedgeletch Sewage Treatment Works
Northumbrian Water Limited / Push Energy · 20/02024/CLP · 2.2 mo to decide
—Under Construction2021-01-19
Evolve Business Centre
Sunderland City Services · 20/00134/LP3 · 2.8 mo to decide
0.3Awaiting Construction2020-05-01
Unipres building
Regenerco · 18/02055/FUL · 2.1 mo to decide
4.9Operational2019-02-14
Nissan Test Track
Nissan / On-Site Land Solutions · 15/00942/FUL · 2.6 mo to decide
4.8Operational2015-07-22
Woodhouse Farm
European Energy Photovoltaics · 14/02132/FUL · 3.2 mo to decide
11Application Refused2015-01-15

Does Sunderland approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 26 solar farms Sunderland has decided, 92% were approved (24 granted, 2 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Sunderland?

The median time from application to decision is 1.9 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 Sunderland consented?

41 MW has been consented across 24 approved schemes, with 38 MW refused. A further 8 applications awaits a decision.

Other technologies in Sunderland

Battery storage in SunderlandOnshore wind in Sunderland

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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