Novarly ParcelRenewable planning

Renewable planning SolarTonbridge and Malling

Solar planning in Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling has decided 8 solar farms and approved 88% of them, taking a median of 1.8 months to decide. Consented capacity: 24 MW.

88%
Approved
7 granted · 1 refused
1.8 mo
Median decision
UK 2.3 mo
24 MW
Consented
across approved schemes
0
Appeals
no appeals recorded

How Tonbridge and Malling compares

Against the 298 UK authorities with 5+ solar decisions, Tonbridge and Malling sits in the 21st percentile for approval rate (5 points below the England average) and the 74th percentile for speed.

Decisions by year

35Approved — 1 (2011)111Approved — 1 (2015)115Approved — 1 (2021)121Approved — 1 (2022)122Approved — 1 (2023)123Approved — 2 (2024)Refused — 1 (2024)324
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 Withdrawn and still-undecided applications are excluded, so a short bar can mean a quiet year rather than a strict council.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 (8)

SchemeMWStatusDecided
Larkfield Leisure Centre, New Hythe Lane - Solar Panels
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council · 24/01753/PA · 1.8 mo to decide
0.16Awaiting Construction2024-12-24
The Tonbridge School Centre, London Road - Solar Panels
Tonbridge School · 23/03518 · 1.8 mo to decide
0.28Awaiting Construction2024-02-14
Nizels Golf Club, Nizels Lane - Solar Panels
The Club Company · 24/00015/PA · 1.3 mo to decide
0.15Application Refused2024-02-12
Offham Landfill Site - Solar PV Array
Infinis Limited · KCC/TM/0090/2021 · 29.8 mo to decide
10.2Under Construction2023-10-13
Unit A Riverside Business Park - Roof mounted solar panels
Brakes Limited · 22/01085/PDV14J · 1.6 mo to decide
0.99Awaiting Construction2022-07-04
Kingshill Solar Farm
Kent County Council · KCC/TM/0209/2021 · 3.2 mo to decide
3Operational2021-12-29
Land off Ford Lane
Trina Solar · 15/02431/FL · 4.3 mo to decide
4.7Operational2015-11-30
BIOSSENCE SOLAR PARK
AGR · 11/00985/FL · 1.8 mo to decide
4.5Operational2011-06-08

Does Tonbridge and Malling approve solar farms?

Yes — of the 8 solar farms Tonbridge and Malling has decided, 88% were approved (7 granted, 1 refused). The UK-wide rate for solar is 93%.

How long does a solar farm application take in Tonbridge and Malling?

The median time from application to decision is 1.8 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 Tonbridge and Malling consented?

24 MW has been consented across 7 approved schemes. There are no applications currently awaiting a decision.

Other technologies in Tonbridge and Malling

Battery storage in Tonbridge and MallingOnshore wind in Tonbridge and Malling

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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