Do solar farms need planning permission?

Solar farms with a generating capacity below 50 megawatts (MW) need planning permission from the local planning authority (LPA). Solar farms with a generating capacity above 50 MW need development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, because they are nationally significant infrastructure projects’ (NSIPs).

Do solar farms need development consent?

Solar farms with a generating capacity above 50 MW need development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, because they are nationally significant infrastructure projects’ (NSIPs). Planning is a devolved matter.

Can a solar farm be built by 2035?

It aims to achieve 70 gigawatt (GW) of solar power by 2035 (up from 15.8 GW as of March 2024). Solar farms usually require planning permission. The size of a solar farm will determine which body decides the application. For example, in England:

Can solar farms be installed on agricultural land?

However, it does not prohibit the siting of solar farms on agricultural land. Solar farms are not evenly distributed across the UK. 43% of ground-mounted installations (that have a capacity of at least one megawatt) that are already operational or are awaiting/under construction are located in the South East and South West of England.

Do LPAs approve small-scale solar farms?

LPAs in England will decide applications for smaller-scale solar farms in line with their local plan and the national planning policies. Government guidance advises LPAs to approve renewable energy developments whose “impacts are (or can be made) acceptable”.

Should solar farms have public rights of way?

Whilst the additional policy provided in relation to public rights of way acknowledges the potential impacts that large-scale solar development may have on such routes, it is often the case that landowners will agree to permissive paths being created for the operation of the solar farm but not the adoption of public rights of way.