Benthead Farm Solar Farm & Battery Storage (63 MW)
Benthead Farm Solar Farm & Battery Storage is a 63 MW solar farm project in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 11 August 2023, not yet built; the record was last updated on 3 February 2022. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 12 December 2022 | Application submitted |
| 11 August 2023 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 11 August 2028 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 63 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 3 February 2022
- Operator or applicant
- Locogen Limited
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00004702
- Address (REPD)
- Benhead Farm, Kilwinning
- Council area (by location)
- North Ayrshire
- Time to decision
- 35 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR6
- Name in REPD
- Benthead Farm - Solar Farm & Battery Storage
- REPD reference
- 10541
The scheme also includes 31.1 MW of battery storage, recorded separately in REPD (approved, not built).
Who decides
As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36. Scottish Government (S36) refused 18% of 334 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 127 weeks to a decision). Across all UK planning authorities 19% of 10,236 decided applications were refused.
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West Of Jameston Farm | battery storage | 19.9 | approved, not built | 1.7 |
| Flemyland Battery Storage | battery storage | 100 | approved, not built | 2.1 |
| Ardoch Farm | battery storage | 20 | approved, not built | 3.0 |
| Kilwinning Battery Storage | battery storage | 100 | approved, not built | 3.1 |
| Tofts | battery storage | 19.9 | approved, not built | 4.9 |
| Castlehill Solar Farm | solar farm | 5 | abandoned | 5.9 |
| Auld Clay | wind farm | 9.2 | refused | 6.0 |
| Site To North East Of, Lochcraigs Farm | solar farm | 5 | operational | 6.6 |
| Hunterston | battery storage | 5 | abandoned | 6.9 |
Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (55.683, -4.6485).