Byers Gill Solar Farm (180 MW)
Byers Gill Solar Farm is a 180 MW solar farm project in Darlington, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 23 July 2025, not yet built; the record was last updated on 29 July 2025. As a nationally significant project, it was decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a Development Consent Order after examination by the Planning Inspectorate (EN010139).
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 9 February 2024 | Application submitted |
| 23 July 2025 | Development consent granted (Secretary of State) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 180 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 29 July 2025
- Operator or applicant
- JBM Solar Projects Limited
- Planning authority
- The Planning Inspectorate - National Infrastructure
- Planning application reference
- EN010139
- Site area
- 552.0 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Byers Gill, Stockton on Tees
- Council area (by location)
- Darlington
- Time to decision
- 76 weeks
- REPD reference
- 12409
The scheme also includes battery storage, recorded separately in REPD (approved, not built).
Official project record at the Planning Inspectorate (EN010139)
Who decides
As a nationally significant project, it was decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a Development Consent Order after examination by the Planning Inspectorate (EN010139). All Energy Secretary decisions on solar and wind farms. The Planning Inspectorate - National Infrastructure refused 7% of 46 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 73 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moor House Wind Farm | wind farm | 12 | operational | 1.1 |
| A1 Wind Farm | wind farm | 20 | application withdrawn | 1.2 |
| Long Pasture Farm, Little Stainton Solar Farm | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not built | 1.4 |
| Whinfield Solar Farm | solar farm | 33 | approved, not built | 3.1 |
| Newbiggin Wind Farm | wind farm | 6 | refused | 3.4 |
| Gately Moor Reservoir, Redmarshall Solar Farm & Battery Storage | solar farm | 50 | approved, not built | 4.4 |
| The Isles Wind Farm | wind farm | 48 | application withdrawn | 4.9 |
| Foxton Lane | wind farm | 6 | refused | 5.6 |
| California Farm Solar Farm & Battery Storage | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not built | 6.7 |
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 (54.5811, -1.4844).