Longfield (500 MW solar farm)
Longfield is a 500 MW solar farm project in Chelmsford, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 26 June 2023, not yet built; the record was last updated on 26 June 2023. 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 (EN010118).
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 28 February 2022 | Application submitted |
| 26 June 2023 | Development consent granted (Secretary of State) |
| 26 June 2028 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 500 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 26 June 2023
- Operator or applicant
- Longfield Solar Energy Farm Limited (part of EDF Renwables)
- Planning authority
- The Planning Inspectorate - National Infrastructure
- Planning application reference
- EN010118
- Site area
- 453.0 ha
- Address (REPD)
- north east of Chelmsford and North of the A12 between Boreham and Hatfield Peverel
- Council area (by location)
- Chelmsford
- Time to decision
- 69 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR6
- REPD reference
- 8162
The scheme also includes battery storage, recorded separately in REPD (approved, not built).
Official project record at the Planning Inspectorate (EN010118)
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 (EN010118). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Cleres Hall Pit Solar Array | solar farm | 25 | approved, not built | 6.9 |
| Cressing Farm, Witham Road Solar Farm | solar farm | 13.8 | approved, not built | 7.4 |
| Cressing Solar Farm (Phase 2) | solar farm | 18 | abandoned | 7.5 |
| Cressing Solar Farm (Phase 1) | solar farm | 5 | operational | 7.5 |
| Slamseys Energy Storage | battery storage | 10 | under construction | 7.7 |
| Little Braxted Solar Park | solar farm | 15 | appeal withdrawn | 8.3 |
| Felsted School Road Solar Photovoltaic Farm & Battery storage | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not built | 8.6 |
| Drapers Farm Solar Park | solar farm | 6 | operational | 8.7 |
| Park Road Solar Farm | solar farm | 22.5 | approved, not built | 9.2 |
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 (51.7832, 0.545).