Renewable energy projects in Bedford
48 solar, wind or battery projects of 150 kW or more are located in Bedford (REPD, July 2026 extract): 3 pending, 27 approved but not running, 7 operational and 10 refused. The council refused 17 of 50 decided applications (34%; UK 19%), with a median 16 weeks from submission to decision.
48projects in the council area
3awaiting a decision
27approved, not running
34%of decisions refused
How Bedford decides
| Applications | Bedford | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 50 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 17 (34%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 3 of 32 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 4 of 4 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 10 of 14 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 15.9 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 0 / 1 | — |
Projects in Bedford
Projects of 1 MW and more (25)
| Project | Type | MW | Status (REPD) | Submitted | Decision | Record updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobholden Battery Storagebattery storage | battery storage | 100 | approved, not builtupdated Feb 2026 | Aug 2022 | granted May 2023 | Feb 2026 |
| Thurleigh Roadbattery storage | battery storage | 69 | approved, not builtupdated Feb 2024 | Jun 2023 | granted Jan 2024 | Feb 2024 |
| Cobholden Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not builtupdated Feb 2026 | May 2024 | granted Jan 2025 | Feb 2026 |
| Solar Farm & Battery Storage at N/O Northill Roadsolar farm | solar farm | 49.9 | application submittedupdated Jul 2025 | Jun 2025 | — | Jul 2025 |
| Twinwood Road Oakley And Clapham, Thurleigh Road Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not builtupdated Mar 2026 | Jul 2025 | granted Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 |
| Snakes Meadow Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 45.5 | approved, not builtupdated Jun 2026 | Oct 2021 | granted May 2024 | Jun 2026 |
| Green Lane, Stewartbysolar farm | solar farm | 30 | application submitted may be out of dateupdated Mar 2022 | Mar 2022 | — | Mar 2022 |
| The Brickmakers Arms Batterybattery storage | battery storage | 20 | approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Jan 2022 | Feb 2021 | granted Dec 2021 | Jan 2022 |
| Nun Wood (Bedford)wind farm | wind farm | 18 | refused on appealupdated Jan 2014 | Jan 2009 | refused Feb 2011 | Jan 2014 |
| Odell Glebe Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 16.8 | operationalupdated Apr 2015 | Jun 2014 | granted Sep 2014 | Apr 2015 |
| Chelveston Airfieldsolar farm | solar farm | 16 | operationalupdated Jun 2014 | Dec 2012 | granted Apr 2013 | Jun 2014 |
| Manor Farm - Pertenhallsolar farm | solar farm | 15 | operationalupdated Jan 2016 | May 2014 | granted Nov 2014 | Jan 2016 |
| Glebe Farm Solar Energy Parksolar farm | solar farm | 15 | operationalupdated Apr 2015 | Feb 2013 | granted Jun 2013 | Apr 2015 |
| Solar Farm & Battery Storage at N/O Northill Roadbattery storage | battery storage | 15 | application submittedupdated Jul 2025 | Jun 2025 | — | Jul 2025 |
| Goosey Lodge Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 10.5 | approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Jun 2023 | Jul 2022 | granted May 2023 | Jun 2023 |
| Gooseys Lodge, Wymington Lane Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 10.4 | approved, not builtupdated May 2024 | Dec 2023 | granted May 2024 | May 2024 |
| Airfield Farm (Podington)wind farm | wind farm | 8.6 | operationalupdated Apr 2017 | Sep 2008 | granted Aug 2012 | Apr 2017 |
| Clapham solar farmsolar farm | solar farm | 7.5 | operationalupdated Nov 2016 | Jul 2014 | granted Nov 2014 | Nov 2016 |
| Elstow Landfill Sitesolar farm | solar farm | 5.5 | under constructionupdated May 2022 | Sep 2020 | granted Nov 2020 | May 2022 |
| Clapham Plateau Solar Farmsolar farm | solar farm | 5.5 | approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Jul 2022 | Jul 2022 | granted Jan 2023 | Jul 2022 |
| Land at Wood Roadsolar farm | solar farm | 5 | refusedupdated Aug 2015 | Mar 2015 | refused Jul 2015 | Aug 2015 |
| Chelveston Airfield - extensionsolar farm | solar farm | 3.5 | operationalupdated Dec 2014 | Mar 2014 | granted Jun 2014 | Dec 2014 |
| Oakley Primary Academy, Station Road Solar Panels & ASHProoftop solar | rooftop solar | 1.6 | approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Feb 2023 | Sep 2022 | granted Feb 2023 | Feb 2023 |
| Progress Park, Elstow, Site Brooftop solar | rooftop solar | 1 | approved, not builtupdated Jan 2024 | Oct 2023 | granted Dec 2023 | Jan 2024 |
| Progress Park, Elstow, Site Arooftop solar | rooftop solar | 1 | approved, not builtupdated Jan 2024 | Oct 2023 | granted Dec 2023 | Jan 2024 |
Smaller schemes under 1 MW, mostly rooftop solar (23)
| Project | Type | MW | Status (REPD) | Submitted | Decision | Record updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 8, Hudson Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.9 | approved, not builtupdated Jan 2023 | Nov 2022 | granted Dec 2022 | Jan 2023 |
| Allotment Gardens, Ridge Road - Micro Energy Storage Systembattery storage | battery storage | 0.8 | refusedupdated Oct 2024 | Jun 2024 | refused Oct 2024 | Oct 2024 |
| Marsh Leys Farm, Woburn Road - Photovoltaicsrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.5 | approved, not builtupdated Feb 2024 | Dec 2023 | granted Feb 2024 | Feb 2024 |
| Bedford Modern School, Manton Lanerooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.3 | approved, not builtupdated Jun 2026 | Mar 2026 | granted May 2026 | Jun 2026 |
| Atlas Converting Equipment Limited, Wolseley Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.3 | approved, not builtupdated Apr 2024 | Jan 2024 | granted Mar 2024 | Apr 2024 |
| Towers Health And Racquets Club, Clapham Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.3 | approved, not builtupdated May 2023 | Mar 2023 | granted May 2023 | May 2023 |
| Kenneth Way, Wilsteadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Sep 2023 | Jul 2023 | granted Aug 2023 | Sep 2023 |
| Kings Oak Primary School, Oak Roadsolar farm | solar farm | 0.2 | application withdrawnupdated May 2024 | Jan 2024 | — | May 2024 |
| Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Jan 2026 | Nov 2025 | granted Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 |
| Bedford School, De Parys Avenuerooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Jun 2026 | Mar 2026 | granted May 2026 | Jun 2026 |
| Systems Houserooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Nov 2021 | Sep 2021 | granted Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Elms Farm Industrial Estatebattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Mar 2025 | May 2024 | granted Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 |
| Abbeyfields Road, Elstow Energy Storage Facilitybattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated Jan 2025 | May 2024 | refused Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 |
| Avon Drive, Highfield Residential Home - Micro Energy Storagebattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated Oct 2024 | Jun 2024 | refused Oct 2024 | Oct 2024 |
| Ridge Road, Kempston - Micro Energy Storage Systembattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated Mar 2025 | Dec 2024 | refused Mar 2025 | Mar 2025 |
| Mowsbury Box Energy Storage Facilitybattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated Mar 2025 | Dec 2024 | refused Mar 2025 | Mar 2025 |
| Oakhill Place, High View Energy Storage Facilitybattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Jun 2025 | Dec 2024 | granted May 2025 | Jun 2025 |
| Royle Gardens & Electricity Substation, Eastcotts Roadbattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated Apr 2025 | Jan 2025 | refused Mar 2025 | Apr 2025 |
| Hillgrounds Road, Kempston Energy Storage Facilitybattery storage | battery storage | 0.2 | refusedupdated May 2025 | Feb 2025 | refused Apr 2025 | May 2025 |
| Bassmead Manor Farm, Staploesolar farm | solar farm | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated May 2025 | Oct 2024 | granted Mar 2025 | May 2025 |
| Kempston Swimming Pool, Hillgrounds Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | refusedupdated Jan 2025 | Nov 2024 | refused Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 |
| Pilgrims Pre Preparatory School, Brickhill Driverooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.2 | approved, not builtupdated Aug 2025 | Jun 2025 | granted Aug 2025 | Aug 2025 |
| Bedford Academy, Mile Roadrooftop solar | rooftop solar | 0.1 | approved, not builtupdated May 2022 | Apr 2022 | granted Jun 2022 | May 2022 |
Postcode districts in Bedford
| District | Projects within 10 km | Pending | Approved | Operational |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK40 | 37 | 4 | 22 | 2 |
| MK41 | 34 | 2 | 21 | 1 |
| MK42 | 37 | 4 | 22 | 2 |
| MK43 | 42 | 2 | 22 | 7 |
| MK44 | 30 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
32% of applications still shown as pending in REPD were submitted more than two years ago, and only 37% of pending records were updated in the last 12 months, so some of them may already have been decided. Projects belong to Bedford by location (nearest postcode to the REPD grid reference); decisions are counted by the planning authority named in REPD.