Energy Projects Near You

Solar, wind and battery projects near Colchester (CO3)

28 solar, wind or battery projects of 150 kW or more are recorded within 10 km of the centre of CO3 (Colchester): 5 are waiting for a planning decision, 12 approved but not yet running, 9 operational. The largest live scheme is Boxted (20 MW solar farm, application submitted on 2 November 2023, no decision recorded; REPD status may be out of date), 9.2 km away. Offshore, 3 wind farms are recorded within 40 km; the nearest is Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Scheme (108 MW, operational), 30.2 km away. Source: Renewable Energy Planning Database, July 2026 extract.

Data: REPD July 2026 extract · calculated 7 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

28projects within 10 km
5awaiting a decision
12approved, not running
9operational

Projects within 10 km of CO3

Projects of 1 MW and more (13)

ProjectTypeMWStatus (REPD)SubmittedDecisionRecord updatedCouncilkm
Layer Farm Solar Farmsolar farmsolar farm49operationalupdated Oct 2024Dec 2020granted Jan 2022Oct 2024Colchester4.2
Birch Solar Farm & Battery Storagesolar farmsolar farm40operationalupdated May 2023Aug 2022granted Mar 2023May 2023Colchester4.8
Land Adjacent Claypits Farm (b) (Birch Estate)solar farmsolar farm2.3operationalupdated Mar 2016Mar 2015granted Jun 2015Mar 2016Colchester5.6
Land Adjacent Claypits Farm (a)solar farmsolar farm5operationalupdated Aug 2016Mar 2015granted Jun 2015Aug 2016Colchester5.8
Stephenson Road - Urban Reserve Flexible Energy Facilitybattery storagebattery storage6approved, not built may be out of dateupdated May 2022May 2022granted Oct 2022May 2022Colchester6.7
Lodge Farm, Boxted Roadrooftop solarrooftop solar1approved, not builtupdated Jul 2024Apr 2024granted Jun 2024Jul 2024Colchester6.8
Birch Airfieldsolar farmsolar farm5.6operationalupdated Jul 2015Jun 2014granted Sep 2014Jul 2015Colchester7.0
Boxted Airfieldsolar farmsolar farm18.8operationalupdated Aug 2015Jun 2014granted Sep 2014Aug 2015Colchester8.2
Holmwood Solar Farmsolar farmsolar farm19refused on appealupdated Feb 2016Mar 2014refused Feb 2015Feb 2016Colchester8.6
Martells Quarry, Slough Lanesolar farmsolar farm1approved, not builtupdated Jan 2026Sep 2025granted Dec 2025Jan 2026Tendring9.2
Boxtedsolar farmsolar farm20application submitted may be out of dateupdated Nov 2023Nov 2023—Nov 2023Colchester9.2
Langenhoe Solar Farmsolar farmsolar farm21.3operationalupdated Mar 2015Nov 2013granted Aug 2014Mar 2015Colchester9.6
Chancery Farm (Ardleigh)solar farmsolar farm11.9operationalupdated Mar 2017Apr 2014granted Dec 2015Mar 2017Tendring9.9
Smaller schemes under 1 MW, mostly rooftop solar (15)
ProjectTypeMWStatus (REPD)SubmittedDecisionRecord updatedCouncilkm
Gosbecks Roadrooftop solarrooftop solar0.2approved, not builtupdated Jul 2025Apr 2025granted Jun 2025Jul 2025Colchester2.1
The Big Yellow Self Storage Co, Bruff Closerooftop solarrooftop solar0.2approved, not builtupdated Oct 2023Aug 2023granted Oct 2023Oct 2023Colchester3.4
Military Corrective Training Centre, Berechurch Hall Campsolar farmsolar farm0.5application submitted may be out of dateupdated Jun 2024May 2024—Jun 2024Colchester3.9
Birch Solar Farm & Battery Storagebattery storagebattery storage—operationalupdated May 2023Aug 2022granted Mar 2023May 2023Colchester4.8
Via Urbis Romanae, Whitmore Drive - Micro Energy Storagebattery storagebattery storage0.2approved, not builtupdated Jan 2026May 2025granted Dec 2025Jan 2026Colchester5.0
Grange Box, Grange Waybattery storagebattery storage0.2approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Nov 2022Sep 2022granted Nov 2022Nov 2022Colchester5.0
Hollywood Bowl, United Wayrooftop solarrooftop solar0.3application submitted may be out of dateupdated Sep 2022Aug 2022—Sep 2022Colchester5.2
David Lloyd Leisure, United Wayrooftop solarrooftop solar0.3approved, not builtupdated Sep 2023Jul 2023granted Sep 2023Sep 2023Colchester5.2
Tesco Stores, Highwoods Squarerooftop solarrooftop solar0.2application submittedupdated Mar 2026Feb 2026—Mar 2026Colchester5.2
Plummers Road, Fordhamsolar farmsolar farm0.3application withdrawnupdated Jun 2023Mar 2023—Jun 2023Colchester5.9
University Of Essexrooftop solarrooftop solar—application submitted may be out of dateupdated Aug 2021Jul 2021—Aug 2021Colchester6.2
Telford Way, Stephenson Road - Micro Energy Battery Storagebattery storagebattery storage0.2approved, not builtupdated Nov 2023Sep 2023granted Nov 2023Nov 2023Tendring6.6
Greenacres, Packards Lanerooftop solarrooftop solar0.6approved, not builtupdated Feb 2025Nov 2024granted Jan 2025Feb 2025Colchester6.8
Fordham Road, Wormingfordrooftop solarrooftop solar—approved, not builtupdated Aug 2025Jul 2025granted Sep 2025Aug 2025Colchester7.1
Waste Transfer Station, Ardleighbattery storagebattery storage0.2approved, not builtupdated Sep 2025May 2025granted Sep 2025Sep 2025Tendring8.5

Distance from the average position of the CO3 postcodes, not from your home. Projects of 5 MW and more have their own page with dates and planning history.

By type

TypeAllPendingApprovedOperationalRefusedMW in pipeline
Solar farm13218121.5
Rooftop solar936002.8
Battery storage605106.8

MW in pipeline: pending, approved and under-construction capacity.

Offshore wind farms within 40 km

Wind farmMWStatus (REPD)km
Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Scheme108operationalupdated May 201830.2
Gunfleet Sands - (Demo) Extension12operationalupdated Nov 201730.7
Gunfleet Sands II64.8operationalupdated Nov 201732.1

Operational, approved and pending offshore wind farms; distance from the district centre to the REPD grid reference of each wind farm (one point per site, so the nearest turbines can be closer or further). All offshore wind farms in UK waters.

How Colchester decides solar, wind and battery applications

ApplicationsColchesterUK
Decided applications (solar, wind, battery)2410,236
Refused2 (8%)19%
Solar refused1 of 1912%
Battery storage refused1 of 516%
Median time from submission to decision13.3 weeks17.0 weeks
Appeals lodged / allowed2 / 1—

All projects in Colchester

Is the status up to date?

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. Near CO3, 6 projects have a status that may be out of date (pending for over two years, or approved with a permission expiry date already passed). Check the council's planning register for the latest decision.

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