Brains Solar Farm (18.8 MW)
Brains Solar Farm is an 18.8 MW solar farm project in Somerset, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 10 January 2022, not yet built; the record was last updated on 19 January 2022. REPD also records that the planning permission expired on 10 January 2025, so the project may not go ahead in this form. Check the planning authority's register for the latest position.
REPD also records that the planning permission expired on 10 January 2025, so the project may not go ahead in this form.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 22 July 2021 | Application submitted |
| 10 January 2022 | Planning permission granted |
| 10 January 2025 | Permission expired |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 18.8 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 19 January 2022
- Operator or applicant
- NextPower SPV 13 Limited
- Planning authority
- Somerset
- Planning application reference
- 21/02205/FUL
- Site area
- 29.6 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Solar Site South Of Brains Farm Moor Lane Wincanton
- Council area (by location)
- Somerset
- Time to decision
- 25 weeks
- REPD reference
- 9370
Recorded together with Hazelrigg Lane, Scotforth Solar Farm (16.5 MW solar farm, under construction).
Who decides
| Applications | Somerset | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 185 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 46 (25%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 34 of 153 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 9 of 10 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 3 of 22 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 14.0 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 17 / 9 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land at Sutor Farm | solar farm | 5 | operational | 0.9 |
| Hook Valley Solar Park | solar farm | 17 | operational | 2.6 |
| Clapton Farm Solar Park | solar farm | 5 | operational | 4.0 |
| Manor Farm (Dorset) | solar farm | 5 | operational | 5.9 |
| Silton Wind Farm | wind farm | 10 | refused on appeal | 6.8 |
| Land at Bowden Lane | solar farm | 5 | operational | 6.9 |
| Land at Stalbridge Park | solar farm | 5 | operational | 7.8 |
| Higher Farm | solar farm | 11 | refused on appeal | 8.0 |
| Sheephouse Farm solar park | solar farm | 9 | refused | 8.9 |
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 (51.0416, -2.3996).