Layer Farm Solar Farm (49 MW)
Layer Farm Solar Farm is a 49 MW solar farm project in Colchester, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: operational since 1 October 2024; the record was last updated on 30 October 2024.
49 MWsolar farm
operationalstatus in REPD
30 October 2024record last updated
Colchestercouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 4 December 2020 | Application submitted |
| 13 January 2022 | Planning permission granted |
| 1 October 2024 | Operational |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 49 MW
- Status (REPD)
- operational
- Record last updated
- 30 October 2024
- Operator or applicant
- Layer Solar Farm Limited
- Planning authority
- Colchester
- Planning application reference
- 202695
- Site area
- 96.8 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Land west of Layer de la Haye
- Council area (by location)
- Colchester
- Time to decision
- 58 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR4
- Name in REPD
- Layer Farm - Solar Farm
- REPD reference
- 8251
Who decides
| Applications | Colchester | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 24 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 2 (8%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 1 of 19 | 12% |
| Battery storage refused | 1 of 5 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 13.3 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 2 / 1 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Adjacent Claypits Farm (a) | solar farm | 5 | operational | 2.9 |
| Birch Solar Farm & Battery Storage | solar farm | 40 | operational | 3.5 |
| Birch Airfield | solar farm | 5.6 | operational | 4.1 |
| Langenhoe Solar Farm | solar farm | 21.3 | operational | 7.2 |
| Wilkin And Sons, Factory Hill Solar Farm | solar farm | 6.2 | operational | 7.8 |
| Holmwood Solar Farm | solar farm | 19 | refused on appeal | 7.8 |
| Highfields Farm (Colchester) | solar farm | 12.2 | operational | 9.1 |
| Skye Green Solar Farm | solar farm | 15 | approved, not built | 9.8 |
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 (51.8471, 0.8463).