Cutbush Farm, Belchamp St Paul (50 MW solar farm)
Cutbush Farm, Belchamp St Paul is a 50 MW solar farm project in Braintree, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: under construction since 1 September 2025; the record was last updated on 28 October 2025.
50 MWsolar farm
under constructionstatus in REPD
28 October 2025record last updated
Braintreecouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 31 May 2023 | Application submitted |
| 9 December 2024 | Planning permission granted |
| 1 September 2025 | Construction started |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 50 MW
- Status (REPD)
- under construction
- Record last updated
- 28 October 2025
- Operator or applicant
- British Solar Renewables
- Planning authority
- Braintree
- Planning application reference
- 23/01413/FUL
- Site area
- 52.9 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Land North Of Cutbush Farm Bakers Road Belchamp St Paul
- Council area (by location)
- Braintree
- Time to decision
- 80 weeks
- Name in REPD
- Cutbush Farm, Belchamp St Paul - Solar Array
- REPD reference
- 11329
Who decides
| Applications | Braintree | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 34 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 3 (9%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 3 of 25 | 12% |
| Battery storage refused | 0 of 9 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 15.9 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 2 / 2 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Deere Lodge | solar | 6 | refused | 0.7 |
| Claredown Farm | battery storage | 20 | operational | 2.1 |
| Pentlow Hill | solar farm | 24 | operational | 5.0 |
| Wales End Road, Cavendish Solar Farm | solar farm | 12.5 | application submitted | 6.7 |
| Wales End Road, Cavendish | battery storage | 10 | application submitted | 6.7 |
| Water Hall Farm, Waterhall Road Solar Farm | solar farm | 35 | approved, not built | 7.7 |
| Surmer Hall, Church Walk Solar Farm & Battery Storage | solar farm | 36 | approved, not built | 9.5 |
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 (52.0524, 0.6026).